Articles

ENZYMES IN TISSUE FLUID AND PERIPHERAL LYMPH

Author
  • G Szabo

Abstract

Enzymes escaping from the tissue cells (e.g. LDH, GOT, GPT) are present in the regional lymph often in higher concentrations than in blood plasma. This proves only the lymphatic transport of the enzyme proteins but does not exclude the possibility of their direct entry into the blood capillaries. In pathological conditions e.g. after burning or tissue ischaemia when the release of cellular enzymes is increased the enzyme activities increase markedly in the regional lymph but in many organs the direct entry of the enzyme molecules into the blood stream is also evidenced by a significant arterio-venous concentration gradient. In some cases the venous transport may be even much more important than the lymphatic one.

The enzymes are released from the cells not into the lymph but into the tissue fluid. It was shown that in the subcutaneous tissue fluid enzyme concentrations are normally higher than in the regional lymph. This difference increases markedly after tissue injury. Tissue fluid also contains more plasma protein than lymph. Based on the above observations a two compartment system of the tissue fluid has been proposed. The first compartment is the pathway actually taken by the fluid and protein leaving the blood capillaries and entering into the lymphatics. The second compartment is a pool not directly drained by the lymphatics and it represents the true tissue fluid.

How to Cite:

Szabo, G., (1978) “ENZYMES IN TISSUE FLUID AND PERIPHERAL LYMPH”, Lymphology 11(4), 147-155.

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Published on
03 Oct 1978
Peer Reviewed