Cerebral microcirculatory changes during exposure to hypoxia.
Changes in the red blood cell content of the cat cerebral cortical vessels were monitored using reflecting light during a decrease in PIO2. The following observations were made: 1) the capillary bed red blood cell content increased during hypoxia prior to the arteriole response at an arterial oxygen tension of 52.0 mmHg; 2) at arterial oxygen tensions below 52 mmHg the red blood cell content increased in all vessels simultaneously; 3) as the PIO2 decreased, the increase in red blood cell content occurred earlier in all vessels. Capillaries, therefore, can respond to hypoxia independently of the arteriole in cat cerebral cortical tissue.
Weinbrecht
P
P
Department of Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-7622.
Longmuir
I
I
Knopp
J
J
Mills
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001160:Arterioles / Q000503:physiopathology; D002196:Capillaries / Q000503:physiopathology; D002415:Cats; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005260:Female; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood
D010100:Oxygen