Absorption From the Pericardial Cavity

Abstract

While engaged in a general analysis of the functions of the lymphatic system and the mechanism of lymph movement, we were surprised to find little information upon absorption from the pericardial sac. Hamburger (1) made five experiments on the pericardium of the dog, using salt solutions and horse serum. He found slow removal of serum. His observations were not concerned with possible routes of absorption and do not apply to our interest. Coupled with lack of data on absorption is lack of an adequate description of pericardial lymphatics. Schumkow (2) described somewhat sketchily two sets of lymphatics in the pericardium of the dog and calf. If he excised the pericardia] sac and filled it first with salt solution and later with Berlin blue, he had no trouble in making the dye flow into these vessels. His colleague, Skworzow (3) very briefly confirmed his findings and declared that the dye got into the lymphatics through stomata such as yon Recklinghausen had declared existed on the peritoneal surface of the central tendon of the diaphragm.

Hydraulic permeability of canine and human pericardium in vitro

“…On the basis of work done in 1931 by Drinkerand Field (1), resorption of pericardial fluid has been considered to occur mainly through subepicardial blood capillaries and to a lesser extent via subepicardial lymphatics (1). The potential role of the parietal pericardium had been generally neglected until recently when evidence has accumulated that it might serve as a major route (2,3).…”

A study of the routes by which protein passes from the pericardial cavity to the blood in rabbits.

“…It is generally believed that pericardial fluid arises as an overflow of myocardial interstitial fluid entering the pericardial cavity through the visceral pericardium (Drinker & Field, 1931;Miller, Pick & Johnson, 1971Araki & Takenaka, 1975). In contrast, several markedly different theories have been proposed to account for its drainage.…”

Protein absorption from the perricardial cavity

“…This phenomenon is usually explained by the filtration of the fluid from the blood capillaries and its consequent absorption and transport by the lymphatics [7,10]. One of the methods for the study of this process has been the injection of a fluid into the pericardial cavity and, after the lapse of some time, the measurement of the volume of the fluid remaining in place [2,6]. The other method was the addition to the injected protein of some tracer, usually a dyestuff, and measuring then the amount of this substance transported by the lymphatics [4].…”

“…There seems to be some differences in the lymphatic drainage of the parietal and of the visceral membran [2]. The protein absorption from the two shears of the pericardium were therefore studied separately under standardized identical conditions.…”

“…The available observations have lead to the conclusion, that protein absorption from the pericardium is a very slow process [1,2,4,6]. It is believed that protein, or more exactly protein containing fluid is removed only by way of the lymphatics [1,2]. In more recent studies, however, it was shown, that the exchange of protein molecules accross endothelial and mesothelial membranes cannot be explained in the terms of capillary filtration and lymphatic absorption and transport [8,9].…”