Failure of recovery from reactive hyperemia in the absence of oxygen

Abstract

In 8 dogs reactive hyperemia was caused in the hindlimb by occluding arterial inflow for 3-10 min. On release of the occlusion, the limbs were perfused with blood that had had all of its O2 removed. There was no recovery from the reactive hyperemia until the perfusion blood was reoxygenated 10 min. later. Following reoxygenation, complete recovery occurred within another few min.