LAUSR

Abstract Background: Mesenteric lymphatic vessels (MLVs) from various animal species have been intensively studied. We aimed to establish the viability and basic contractile characteristics of human MLVs maintained in vitro and to determine the reactivity of MLVs with norepinephrine (NE) and substance P (SP) and to compare with the thoracic duct (TD). Methods and Results: Isolated human lymphatic vessels were mounted on a wire myograph under isometric conditions and tension was recorded. The diameter–tension characteristics for MLVs were generated by stretching the vessels and stimulating with a 125 mM K+ solution containing 10 μM NE. The diameter–tension data generated for MLVs from two separate surgical patient groups were found to be similar: maximum active tension for MLVs occurred when the passive stretch corresponded to a transmural pressure of 22 mmHg. Subsequent experiments on human MLVs were performed by normalization with 22 mmHg as the equivalent target pressure. The majority of MLVs were respo...