AJP - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol 250, Issue 4 497-G500, Copyright © 1986 by American Physiological Society
Importance of interstitial matrix hydration in intestinal chylomicron transport
P. Tso, J. A. Barrowman and D. N. Granger
We have shown previously that lymph flow has a profound effect on
intestinal chylomicron transport. However, since lymph flow both determines
the rate of convective movement of chylomicrons within the interstitium and
reflects the degree of hydration of the interstitial matrix, we were unable
to determine which factor was more important for the inverse relation
between the chylomicron appearance time and lymph flow. In this
investigation, we measured the chylomicron appearance time in rats with a
normal lymph flow and expanded matrix (study A), in rats with a reduced
lymph flow but expanded matrix (study B), and finally in rats with a
dehydrated matrix (study C). The chylomicron appearance times were 11.7,
13.6, and 21.7 min for the rats from studies A-C, respectively. Thus, the
data obtained from this study indicate that the matrix hydration may exert
a more significant influence on chylomicron movement than lymph flow per
se. In conclusion, the reduced chylomicron appearance time produced by
expansion of the mucosal interstitium results from a diminished resistance
of the interstitial matrix to chylomicron movement rather than a decreased
transit time due to an enhanced convective flux of chylomicrons.
