[Direct effect of hypoxia on the function of skeletal muscle blood vessels in the cat]

Abstract

In decentralized skeletal muscles of the cat hindlimbs, pO2 of arterial blood dropped from 105 to 87, 68 and 37 mm Hg in artificial respiration with 18% O2 (slight), 14% O2 (moderate) and 8% O2 (grave hypoxia) mixtures, resp. The slight hypoxia practically did not affect vascular resistance and capacity, distensibility of veins, capillary filtration coefficient and mean capillary hydrostatic pressure. Moderate and grave hypoxia reduced perfusion pressure by 3.5% and 9%, resp., increased the capillary filtration coefficient by 16% and 19%, resp., and did not alter the vascular capacity, distensibility of veins and capillary hydrostatic pressure. Precapillary sphincters and arterioles are most sensitive to hypoxia in skeletal muscles.