scholarly journals Determinants of valve gating in collecting lymphatic vessels from rat mesentery

2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (1) ◽  
pp. H48-H60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Davis ◽  
Elaheh Rahbar ◽  
Anatoliy A. Gashev ◽  
David C. Zawieja ◽  
James E. Moore

Secondary lymphatic valves are essential for minimizing backflow of lymph and are presumed to gate passively according to the instantaneous trans-valve pressure gradient. We hypothesized that valve gating is also modulated by vessel distention, which could alter leaflet stiffness and coaptation. To test this hypothesis, we devised protocols to measure the small pressure gradients required to open or close lymphatic valves and determine if the gradients varied as a function of vessel diameter. Lymphatic vessels were isolated from rat mesentery, cannulated, and pressurized using a servo-control system. Detection of valve leaflet position simultaneously with diameter and intraluminal pressure changes in two-valve segments revealed the detailed temporal relationships between these parameters during the lymphatic contraction cycle. The timing of valve movements was similar to that of cardiac valves, but only when lymphatic vessel afterload was elevated. The pressure gradients required to open or close a valve were determined in one-valve segments during slow, ramp-wise pressure elevation, either from the input or output side of the valve. Tests were conducted over a wide range of baseline pressures (and thus diameters) in passive vessels as well as in vessels with two levels of imposed tone. Surprisingly, the pressure gradient required for valve closure varied >20-fold (0.1–2.2 cmH2O) as a passive vessel progressively distended. Similarly, the pressure gradient required for valve opening varied sixfold with vessel distention. Finally, our functional evidence supports the concept that lymphatic muscle tone exerts an indirect effect on valve gating.

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (2) ◽  
pp. H714-H721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Sun ◽  
An Huang ◽  
Fabio A. Recchia ◽  
Yanning Cui ◽  
Edward J. Messina ◽  
...  

Previously, we frequently observed dilation of arterioles after agonist-induced constrictions. We hypothesized that deformation of the endothelium during decreases in diameter of isolated arterioles elicits the release of nitric oxide (NO). In isolated arterioles of rat mesentery, phenylephrine (PE, 10−7 M)-, U-46619 (10−7 M)-, and KCl (50 mM)-induced constrictions were followed by potent dilations. Inhibition of NO synthase with N ω-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA, 2 × 10−4 M) or removal of the endothelium significantly enhanced constriction and reduced the postconstriction dilation. In the presence of 80 mmHg of intraluminal pressure, an increase in extraluminal pressure (Pe) to 75 mmHg for 20 s and 1 and 2 min decreased vessel diameter. After release of Pe, arterioles dilated as a function of the duration of diameter reduction by Pe. Removal of the endothelium or administration of l-NNA significantly diminished the post-Pe dilations. In cultured mesenteric arteriolar endothelial cells (EC), PE, U-46619, or KCl did not increase, whereas ACh did increase, the production of NO, as measured by a fluorometric assay for nitrite. Furthermore, when EC, cultured on a stretched silicone membrane, were subjected to deformation by shortening the membrane to 50% of its original length, NO release increased significantly. Based on all of the above, we propose that deformation of EC per se elicits release of NO, a mechanism that modulates arteriolar constriction.


2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingxi Wang ◽  
Zhe Li ◽  
Lei Qin ◽  
George Caddy ◽  
Choon Hwai Yap ◽  
...  

Harnessing reversible snap-through of a dielectric elastomer (DE), which is a mechanism for large deformation provided by an electromechanical instability, for large-volume pumping has proven to be feasible. However, the output volume of snap-through pumping is drastically reduced by adverse pressure gradient, and large-volume pumping under high adverse pressure gradient by a DE pump has not been realized. In this paper, we propose a new mechanism of DE fluid pumping that can address this shortcoming by connecting DE pumps of different membrane stiffnesses serially in a pumping circuit and by harnessing synergistic interactions between neighboring pump units. We build a simple serial DE pump to verify the concept, which consists of two DE membranes. By adjusting the membrane stiffness appropriately, a synergistic effect is observed, where the snap-through of membrane 1 triggers the snap-through of membrane 2, ensuring that a large volume (over 70 ml/cycle) can be achieved over a wide range of large adverse pressure gradients. In comparison, the conventional single DE pump's pumping volume rapidly decreased beyond a low adverse pressure gradient of 0.196 kPa. At the pressure difference of 0.98 kPa, the serial DE pump's pumping volume is 4185.1% larger than that of the conventional DE pump. This pumping mechanism is customizable for various pressure ranges and enables a new approach to design DE-based soft pumping devices such as a DE total artificial heart, which requires large-volume pumping over a wide range of pressure difference.


2008 ◽  
Vol 615 ◽  
pp. 445-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHIVSAI AJIT DIXIT ◽  
O. N. RAMESH

Experiments were done on sink flow turbulent boundary layers over a wide range of streamwise pressure gradients in order to investigate the effects on the mean velocity profiles. Measurements revealed the existence of non-universal logarithmic laws, in both inner and defect coordinates, even when the mean velocity descriptions departed strongly from the universal logarithmic law (with universal values of the Kármán constant and the inner law intercept). Systematic dependences of slope and intercepts for inner and outer logarithmic laws on the strength of the pressure gradient were observed. A theory based on the method of matched asymptotic expansions was developed in order to explain the experimentally observed variations of log-law constants with the non-dimensional pressure gradient parameter (Δp=(ν/ρU3τ)dp/dx). Towards this end, the system of partial differential equations governing the mean flow was reduced to inner and outer ordinary differential equations in self-preserving form, valid for sink flow conditions. Asymptotic matching of the inner and outer mean velocity expansions, extended to higher orders, clearly revealed the dependence of slope and intercepts on pressure gradient in the logarithmic laws.


2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (2) ◽  
pp. H293-H302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Davis ◽  
Ann M. Davis ◽  
Christine W. Ku ◽  
Anatoliy A. Gashev

We tested the hypothesis that lymphatics would exhibit myogenic constrictions and dilations to intraluminal pressure changes. Collecting lymphatic vessels were isolated from rat mesentery, cannulated, and pressurized for in vitro study. The lymphatic diameter responses to controlled intraluminal pressure steps of different magnitudes were tested in the absence and presence of the inflammatory mediator substance P, which is known to enhance lymphatic contractility. Myogenic constriction, defined as a time-dependent decrease in end-diastolic diameter over a 1- to 2-min period following pressure elevation (after initial distension), was observed in the majority of rat mesenteric lymphatic vessels in vitro and occurred over a relatively wide pressure range (1–15 cmH2O). Myogenic dilation, a time-dependent rise in end-diastolic diameter following pressure reduction, was observed in over half the vessels equilibrated at a low baseline pressure. Myogenic constrictions were independent of the cardiac-like and time-dependent compensatory decline in end-systolic diameter and increase in amplitude observed in almost all vessels following pressure elevation. Substance P increased the percentage of vessels exhibiting myogenic constriction, the magnitude and rate of constriction, and the pressure range over which constriction occurred. Our results demonstrate that myogenic responses occur in collecting lymphatic vessels and suggest that the response may aid in preventing vessel overdistension during inflammation/edema.


1976 ◽  
Vol 190 (1) ◽  
pp. 277-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Brown ◽  
B.W. Martin

SYNOPSIS This paper traces the evolution of the velocity gradient factor as the most appropriate boundary-layer laminarisation criterion as a prelude to examination of its advantages over the original and modified Pohlhausen parameters for laminar boundary-layer situations involving positive and negative pressure gradients. The velocity gradient factor, which involves only directly-measurable quantities, appears a more sensitive indicator of changes in other parameters over a wide range of flow models, including the onset of transition in the presence of significant mainstream turbulence.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (4) ◽  
pp. R1510-R1518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Quick ◽  
Arun M. Venugopal ◽  
Anatoliy A. Gashev ◽  
David C. Zawieja ◽  
Randolph H. Stewart

Lymphangions, segments of lymphatic vessels bounded by valves, have characteristics of both ventricles and arteries. They can act primarily like pumps when actively transporting lymph against a pressure gradient. They also can act as conduit vessels when passively transporting lymph down a pressure gradient. This duality has implications for clinical treatment of several types of edema, since the strategy to optimize lymph flow may depend on whether it is most beneficial for lymphangions to act as pumps or conduits. To address this duality, we employed a simple computational model of a contracting lymphangion, predicted the flows at both positive and negative axial pressure gradients, and validated the results with in vitro experiments on bovine mesenteric vessels. This model illustrates that contraction increases flow for normal axial pressure gradients. With edema, limb elevation, or external compression, however, the pressure gradient might reverse, and lymph may flow passively down a pressure gradient. In such cases, the valves may be forced open during the entire contraction cycle. The vessel thus acts as a conduit, and contraction has the effect of increasing resistance to passive flow, thus inhibiting flow rather than promoting it. This analysis may explain a possible physiological benefit of the observed flow-mediated inhibition of the lymphatic pump at high flow rates.


1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 2311-2316 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Miki ◽  
W. Hida ◽  
Y. Kikuchi ◽  
T. Chonan ◽  
M. Satoh ◽  
...  

We examined the effect of electrical stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve and pharyngeal lubrication with artificial surfactant (Surfactant T-A) on the opening of obstructed upper airway in nine anesthetized supine dogs. The upper airway was isolated from the lower airway by transecting the cervical trachea. Upper airway obstruction was induced by applying constant negative pressures (5, 10, 20, and 30 cmH2O) on the rostral cut end of the trachea. Peripheral cut ends of the hypoglossal nerves were electrically stimulated by square-wave pulses at various frequencies from 10 to 30 Hz (0.2-ms duration, 5–7 V), and the critical stimulating frequency necessary for opening the obstructed upper airway was measured at each driving pressure before and after pharyngeal lubrication with artificial surfactant. The critical stimulation frequency for upper airway opening significantly increased as upper airway pressure became more negative and significantly decreased with lubrication of the upper airway. These findings suggest that greater muscle tone of the genioglossus is needed to open the occluded upper airway with larger negative intraluminal pressure and that lubrication of the pharyngeal mucosa with artificial surfactant facilitates reopening of the upper airway.


1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (2) ◽  
pp. H997-H1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Drake ◽  
S. Dhother ◽  
R. A. Teague ◽  
J. C. Gabel

Microvascular membranes are heteroporous, so the mean osmotic reflection coefficient for a microvascular membrane (sigma d) is a function of the reflection coefficient for each pore. Investigators have derived equations for sigma d based on the assumption that the protein osmotic pressure gradient across the membrane (delta II) does not vary from pore to pore. However, for most microvascular membranes, delta II probably does vary from pore to pore. In this study, we derived a new equation for sigma d. According to our equation, pore-to-pore differences in delta II increase the effect of small pores and decrease the effect of large pores on the overall membrane osmotic reflection coefficient. Thus sigma d for a heteroporous membrane may be much higher than previously derived equations indicate. Furthermore, pore-to-pore delta II differences increase the effect of plasma protein osmotic pressure to oppose microvascular fluid filtration.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Zhou ◽  
Lei Qiu ◽  
Wenzheng Zhang ◽  
Jiao Xue

The aim of this paper was to develop a model that can characterize the actual micropore structures in coal and gain an in-depth insight into water’s seepage rules in coal pores under different pressure gradients from a microscopic perspective. To achieve this goal, long-flame coals were first scanned by an X-ray 3D microscope; then, through a representative elementary volume (REV) analysis, the optimal side length was determined to be 60 μm; subsequently, by using Avizo software, the coal’s micropore structures were acquired. Considering that the porosity varies in the same coal sample, this study selected four regions in the sample for an in-depth analysis. Moreover, numerical simulations on water’s seepage behaviors in coal under 30 different pressure gradients were performed. The results show that (1) the variation of the simulated seepage velocity and pressure gradient accorded with Forchheimer’s high-velocity nonlinear seepage rules; (2) the permeability did not necessarily increase with the increase of the effective porosity; (3) in the same model, under different pressure gradients, the average seepage pressure decreased gradually, while the average seepage velocity and average mass flow varied greatly with the increase of the seepage length; and (4) under the same pressure gradient, the increase of the average mass flow from the inlet to the outlet became more significant under a higher inlet pressure.


Author(s):  
Frank J. Aldrich

A physics-based approach is employed and a new prediction tool is developed to predict the wavevector-frequency spectrum of the turbulent boundary layer wall pressure fluctuations for subsonic airfoils under the influence of adverse pressure gradients. The prediction tool uses an explicit relationship developed by D. M. Chase, which is based on a fit to zero pressure gradient data. The tool takes into account the boundary layer edge velocity distribution and geometry of the airfoil, including the blade chord and thickness. Comparison to experimental adverse pressure gradient data shows a need for an update to the modeling constants of the Chase model. To optimize the correlation between the predicted turbulent boundary layer wall pressure spectrum and the experimental data, an optimization code (iSIGHT) is employed. This optimization module is used to minimize the absolute value of the difference (in dB) between the predicted values and those measured across the analysis frequency range. An optimized set of modeling constants is derived that provides reasonable agreement with the measurements.


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