Variation in output of leukocytes and erythrocytes in human peripheral lymph during rest and activity

The output of lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes and erythrocytes in peripheral leg lymph from healthy volunteers has been followed during night and everyday activity, during and after venous stasis, ergometer cycling and warm foot bath and during immobilisation in horizontal position over two 24-hour periods. The output of lymphocytes exceeded the output of monocytes and erythrocytes. Granulocytes were not found except immediately after cannulation. The cell output was low during night rest and the horizontal position for 24 hours. After assumption of the upright position the output of lymphocytes increased about 80 times and the output of erythrocytes 40 times probably because of washout of cells accumulated in tissue during rest. During ergometer cycling and venous stasis the output of cells increased and even more in the one hour rest period following this experiment. During venous stasis the output dropped but increased after the stasis had been released. The pattern of variation in lymphocyte, erythrocyte and monocyte output was the same. This indicate that the fluctuation in output depends on variation in blood flow in the tissue. The output of cells during and after heating seems to be dependent also on increased capillary permeability for cells as the output of erythrocytes exceeded the output of lymphocytes. The high erythrocyte/lymphocyte ratio in blood versus a low ratio in lymph shows that these two cell types pass through the capillary wall by different mechanisms.