The effects of manually applied intermittent pulsation pressure to rat ventral thorax on lymph transport

The present study evaluated the effects of tissue massage on a part of the body remote from the region of lymph uptake into the initial lymphatics. Ly mph uptake was assessed with a fluorescent probe placed in a potential spac e of the lower extremity of anesthetized female Sprague-Dawley rats. Tail b lood was assayed at intervals over 15 hours for fluorescence. A total of 63 animals were utilized (treatment = 32 and control = 31). The manipulated g roup received lymph flow enhancing treatment (LFET) five minutes per rat pe r hour until they were aroused. The control group were left lying prone in cages until a blood sample was taken. The LFET procedure was bilateral fing er pressure applied to the lower ribs of a supine rat followed immediately by a light tap to the sternum. These maneuvers were repeated for 5 minutes. The rate of appearance of fluorescent probe was greater during the first n ine hours of the experiment in the treatment group than in the controls but not at hours 12 and 15. This study demonstrates that mechanical pressure t o body regions physically distant from the location of lymph formation enha nces lymph uptake.