Diuretics and small intestinal lymph flow in the dog.

Simultaneous measurements of thoracic duct lymph flow and small intestinal lymph flow were carried out in mongrel dogs after the administration of mannitol, ethacrynic acid, furosemide and chlorothiazide. Thoracic duct lymph flow increased only after injection of mannitol. Intestinal lymph flow increased after injection of all diuretics except chlorothiazide. Furthermore, mannitol produced simultaneous increases in thoracic duct and intestinal lymph flows. The durations of response of the increased lymph flows from each lymph channel produced by mannitol were statistically identical. The durations of increased intestinal lymph flows observed with each drug were: 40+/-3 (S.E.), 43+/-2 and 38+/-2 minutes for mannitol, ethacrynic acid and furosemide, respectively. Mean arterial blood pressures and inferior vena cava pressures did not change from the control to the experimental state in any animal studied. Similarly measurements of serum and lymph sodium, potassium and protein concentrations were unchanged from the control to the experimental state. These studies demonstrate that mannitol simultaneously increases thoracic duct lymph flow as well as intestinal lymph flow. Secondly, the results suggest that the increases in thoracic duct lymph flow after ethacrynic acid and furosemide administration, observed in previous studies arose primarily from the small intestine.