Impairment of contraction increases sensitivity of epicardial lymph pressure for left ventricular pressure
In the present study, cardiac contraction was regionally impaired to investigate the relationship between contractility [maximum first time derivative of left ventricular pressure (dPLV/d tmax)] and PLVon epicardial lymph pressure (Plymph) generation. Measurements were performed in open-chest anesthetized dogs under control conditions and while local contraction was abolished by intracoronary administration of lidocaine. Lidocaine significantly lowered dPLV/d tmaxand PLVpulse to 77 ± 9 (SD; n = 5) and 82 ± 5% of control, respectively, whereas Plymphpulse increased to 186 ± 101%. The relative increase of maximum Plymphto PLVrelated inversely to the change in dPLV/d tmaxafter lidocaine administration. Additional data were obtained when PLVwas transiently increased by constriction of the descending aorta. The ratio of pulse Plymphto PLVduring aortic clamping increased after lidocaine administration, from 0.063 ± 0.03 to 0.15 ± 0.09. The results suggest that transmission of PLVto the cardiac lymphatic vasculature is enhanced when regional contraction is impaired. These findings imply that during normal, unimpaired contraction lymph vessels are shielded from high systolic PLVby the myocardium itself.