Autoregulation of blood flow in skeletal muscle during increased metabolic activity

Abstract

The effect of increased metabolic rate on autoregulation of blood flow in skeletal muscle was investigated by stimulating muscle to contract. At elevated metabolic rates good autoregulation of blood flow was observed but at higher blood flow levels than those observed in resting muscle. The degree of autoregulation in the contracting muscle was at least as great as in resting muscle. It would appear that a close link with metabolism is involved in the mechanisms associated with autoregulation of blood flow.