Ductus thoracicus lymph in mice. 2. Enzyme activities and protein content

Lymph was collected in anaesthetized mice by a newly developed cervical approach (see preceding paper). Short term drainage, which should not alter the colloid-osmotic forces, meets the physiological requirements for determination of protein content and enzyme activities in lymph and plasma. For cellular enzymes such as creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate aminotransferase, lymph plasma ratios higher than 1 are reported. Besides the well known lymphatic transport route for protein and albumin, the highly significant lymphatic transport of cellular enzymes to the actual intravasal enzyme activity is emphasized.