The Japanese Journal of Physiology
Print ISSN : 0021-521X
Regular Papers
Development of an Experimental Apparatus for Investigating Lymphatic Pumping Activity of Murine Mesentery In Vivo
Nobuyuki OnoRisuke MizunoHiroshi NojiriToshio Ohhashi
Author information
JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2000 Volume 50 Issue 1 Pages 25-31

Details
Abstract
The present study has been attempted to establish a modified intravital microscope system for investigating murine lymphatic pumping activity in vivo and evaluate whether or not there is rhythmic pumping activity of murine mesenteric lymphatic vessels in vivo. We designed and constructed a custom organ chamber with a semicircular channel (8 mm in radius, 5 mm in width, 3 mm in depth), being suitable for the superfusing of murine mesentery in vivo. A marked lymphatic pumping activity was observed in the mesenteries of DDY mice. The maximal and minimal diameter and frequency in the pumping activity were 60.9 ± 1.0 μm, 53.7 ± 1.8 μm and 12.8 min−1 (n = 5), respectively. Both NE (norepinephrine, 10−8–10−6 M) and TEA (tetraethylammonium, 1–10 mM) caused dose-dependent constriction of the mesenteric lymphatic vessels in the mice. These findings suggest that a modified intravital microscope system with a specially designed and constructed edge-monitoring device enables us to investigate in vivo lymphatic circulation in murine mesenteries.
Content from these authors
© 2000 by The Physiological Society of Japan
Previous article Next article
feedback
Top