Flow and Protein Content of Lymph in Resting and Exercising Skeletal Muscle

The study was undertaken to evaluate the rôle of the lymphatic drainage of the calf muscles of cats in the transport of fluid and proteins from exercising muscle. Pure muscle lymph was obtained from a deep lymph vessel above the knee after exclusion of the paw which otherwise contributes substantially to the flow of lymph in the deep vessels. During exercise the lymph flow in skeletal muscles increases but even then accounts for only some 10 per cent of the simultaneously produced capillary filtrate. The protein content of lymph from muscle was about the same as that of lymph from skin. The albumin fraction in muscle lymph was moderately raised compared with that of plasma and did not change during exercise. The lymph can probably drain the entire protein content of the capillary filtrate produced during exercise.