Oxygen consumption in skeletal muscle during reactive hyperemia

Abstract

The surgical technique of isolation of the blood supply of the gracilis muscle of the dog has been developed for analysis of the oxygen consumption during reactive hyperemia. The time course of the blood flow, A-V oxygen difference and the oxygen consumption follow the same pattern. Immediately after the release of the arterial occlusion, there is an increase in all three values which decay and go below the control level that existed just prior to the occlusion. The increased oxygen consumption during reactive hyperemia is possible primarily by the increased blood flow, although the A-V oxygen difference is increased also. A theoretical oxygen deficit is overpaid by the oxygen consumption during the period of increased blood flow but essentially repaid if the period of decreased blood flow is included.