Dynamics of transcapillary fluid transfer and plasma volume during lower body negative pressure

Lower body negative pressure (LBNP) is a stimulus frequently used to study reflex circulatory responses in humans. Studies have provided data on LBNP-induced blood pooling; however, the possibility that LBNP also might be associated with an important loss of plasma fluid has attracted little attention. Therefore this problem was analysed in male volunteers exposed to prolonged (10 min) high (70-75 mmHg) LBNP. Data on LBNP-induced blood pooling that were more reliable than in previous literature were also provided. LBNP caused early pooling of more than 870 ml of blood. Rapid filtration of plasma into the exposed tissues occurred throughout LBNP. The cumulative oedema in the legs and buttocks averaged as much as 460 ml, and additional quite large volumes of plasma apparently accumulated in other parts of the lower body. Concomitantly, there was compensatory absorption of extravascular fluid in the upper body. The net decrease in plasma volume (PV) was still large and averaged 491 +/- 29(SE) ml. Two aspects of the demonstrated process of transcapillary fluid fluxes and PV decline may be emphasized. Firstly, in conjunction with the primary large redistribution of intravascular volume, it certainly implies that LBNP is a potent stimulus as also indicated by a progressive increase in heart rate (HR) and a progressive decline in systolic pressure throughout experimental intervention. In fact, LBNP-induced circulatory stress clearly has bearings on the extreme hypovolaemic situation provided by the pressure-bottle haemorrhage technique used in animals. Secondly, it not only offers an interesting example of the dynamics of PV but appears to have more general validity with regard to states characterized by gravitational shifts of blood (hydrostatic load), like upright exercise and quiet standing.