Articles

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF THE EFFECTS OF UNGUENTUM LYMPHATICUM ON ACUTE EXPERIMENTAL LYMPHEDEMA AND VARIOUS HIGH-PROTEIN EDEMAS

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Abstract

Rats' legs and feet were studied by qualitative and quantitative electron microscopy, including massdensitometry of protein in the tissues and in the initial lymphatics. The tissues were either normal, or had been made edematous by lymphostasis, moderate burns, or dextran. It was found that Unguentum lymphaticum very greatly reduced the amount of edema in the legs with lymphostasis. Since the concentrations of plasma protein in the tissues and initial lymphatics, and its total amounts in the tissues were all greatly reduced, it appears that the cream's anti-lymphedematous activity is via a removal of the excess protein. Since the macrophages were greatly increased in number by the cream (and previous work shows that selectively poisoning these cells prevents much of the cream's effectiveness in lymphedema), very probably it is this increase in their numbers (and possibly their individual proteolytic activities) which is how the cream causes the removal of the excess protein -- via an increased proteolysis. The cream also causes an increase in the amount of edema in the rat-foot (after all the injuries, including lymphedema); however the concentration and amount of protein in the tissues is reduced. This is consistent with an inflow of low protein fluid, caused by a vaso-dilatation of the blood microcirculation of this rather specialized tissue. All of these characteristics are very similar to those of many of the benzo-pyrone group of drugs.

How to Cite:

Casley-Smith, J., (1983) “ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF THE EFFECTS OF UNGUENTUM LYMPHATICUM ON ACUTE EXPERIMENTAL LYMPHEDEMA AND VARIOUS HIGH-PROTEIN EDEMAS”, Lymphology 16(4), 233-242.