Changes in the composition of hind limb lymph after chemical injury

1. Lymph was collected directly from the hind limbs of rabbits and cats anaesthetized with pentobarbitone.2. Injury to the hind limb was caused by injection of one of two chemicals; either dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) which produced a mild injury, or croton oil which produced severe injury.3. After subcutaneous injection (6 x 0.2 ml) into the right hind limb there was a good correlation between the changes in concentration of intracellular enzyme systems in the lymph draining the limb and the histological appearance of the injured tissue. DMSO caused an increase in cytoplasmic enzymes only, while after croton oil, which caused cell necrosis, there was an increase in the concentration of all intracellular enzymes examined.4. There was an increased lymph flow accompanied by a fall in protein concentration after DMSO, while croton oil caused an increase in protein concentration and a variable effect on lymph flow.