Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 69, Issue 2 625-629, Copyright © 1990 by American Physiological Society
Transperitoneal fluid dynamics in rabbit liver
D. Negrini, C. Gonano, M. Del Fabbro and G. Miserocchi
Istituto di Fisiologia Umana, Milan, Italy.
The peritoneal cavity of 18 anesthetized spontaneously breathing supine
rabbits was opened through a midline section. One or two hollow capsules
(surface area 0.8 cm2) were glued to the exposed liver surface, filled with
whole or 25% diluted plasma, and connected to a transducer and a graduated
pipette. Various hydraulic pressures (Pcap) were set in the capsule; at
each Pcap the liquid flow per unit surface area (V/S) between the Disse's
interstitial space and the capsule was measured from the rate of liquid
displacement in the pipette. The slope of the V/S vs. Pcap linear
regression was utilized to estimate the hydraulic conductivity of the
Glissonian-peritoneal membrane and averaged 5.1 x 10(-3) +/- 4.7 x 10(-3)
(SD) ml.h-1.cmH2O-1.cm-2 (n = 25). Hydraulic pressure in the Disse's space
(Pd) was measured by closing the capsule against the transducer
disconnected from the pipette. At portal and hepatic venous pressures of
7.6 +/- 2.9 and 2.6 +/- 1 cmH2O, respectively, Pd was 2.05 +/- 2 cmH2O.
Physiologically, Starling pressure gradients cause fluid transfer from the
sinusoids to the Disse's space; transperitoneal fluid filtration only
occurs through the liver surface that faces the diaphragm, which
corresponds to one-fifth of the total hepatic surface.
