Effect of microgravity on forearm subcutaneous vascular resistance in humans

To test the hypothesis that the subcutaneous vascular constrictor response to an orthostatic stress in humans is augmented after exposure to microgravity, the following experiment was performed. Four male astronauts underwent a standardized stepwise lower body negative pressure (LBNP) profile 5 mo before and between 24 and 40 h after completion of the 10-day Spacelab D2 mission (STS-55). Forearm subcutaneous blood flow was continuously measured during LBNP by the 133Xe washout technique, and forearm subcutaneous vascular resistance (FSVR) was estimated by dividing mean arterial pressure by forearm subcutaneous blood flow. Relative to the pre-LBNP level, FSVR increased to 169 +/- 42 (P < 0.05), 176 +/- 12 (P < 0.05) and 158 +/- 27% during postflight LBNP of -11 (20 min), -23 (5 min), and -30 (7.5 min) mmHg, respectively. During the same LBNP levels of the same durations preflight, FSVR increased to 121 +/- 11 (not significant), 139 +/- 12 (P < 0.05), and 135 +/- 13% (P < 0.05), respectively. Thus, FSVR increased more promptly and, in three of the four subjects, was more pronounced during postflight than during preflight LBNP. In conclusion, the FSVR response was more prompt and tended to be accentuated after 1–2 days after exposure to 10 days of microgravity and could act as a defense mechanism to alleviate decreased orthostatic tolerance.

Effect of pulmonary edema on transfer of gas from acinus to airways

We directly measured the effect of progressive pulmonary edema on gas transfer from the acinus by injecting 133Xe dissolved in saline through a pulmonary artery catheter into an acinar region with occluded blood flow and measuring 133Xe washout by gamma scintillation scanning. We measured washout in six anesthetized paralyzed dogs during mechanical ventilation with O2 before and after injection of 0.6 mg/kg of oleic acid into the right atrium, which induces severe pulmonary edema within 2 h. Changes in the elastance and resistance of the lung were also calculated from measurements of airway flow, airway pressure, and esophageal pressure. Before injection of oleic acid, the monoexponential rate constant for 133Xe washout was 3.6 +/- 1.4 (SE) min-1; from this we estimated that the rate of gas transfer of 133Xe from the acini was 1.0 l/min. The rate constant decreased gradually after the injection and was correlated with increases in elastance and resistance (r = -0.66) and decreases in alveolar PO2 (r = 0.71). At 2 h after injection, the rate constant (1.2 +/- 0.8 min-1) was lower than control (P < 0.01), and the rate of gas transfer of 133Xe from the acini was < 0.32 l/min. We conclude that resistance in the acini is increased during pulmonary edema and that it is correlated, in the oleic acid model, with changes in overall lung mechanical properties.

Nocturnal variations in subcutaneous blood flow rate in lower leg of normal human subjects

Subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow rate was measured in the lower leg of 22 normal human subjects over 12- to 20-h ambulatory conditions. The 133Xe washout technique, portable CdTe(Cl) detectors, and a portable data storage unit were used. The tracer depot was applied on the medial aspect of the right lower leg 10 cm proximal to the malleolar level by means of the epicutaneous, atraumatic labeling technique. The change from upright to supine position from day 1 in the beginning of the night period elicited an instantaneous blood flow rate increment of 30-40% in accordance with a decrease in central and local postural sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity. During sleep, characteristic variations in subcutaneous blood flow were disclosed. The 133Xe washout curve could be divided into three segments with significantly different slopes. Approximately 90 min after the subject went to sleep, an additional blood flow rate increment of considerable magnitude was observed. The mean increase was 84%, but in several cases a greater than 200% increment was measured (maximum 244%). The intra-individual coefficient of variation for the nocturnal blood flow response was in triplicate measurements 25% (n = 9). The hyperemic phase lasted approximately 100 min after which the blood flow rate returned to the level measured at the beginning of the night period. The blood flow rates measured on the second day did not differ from those on the first day. Control measurements performed under similar thermal conditions, but with the subjects kept awake, did not reveal any hyperemic phases. This points toward changes in cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms during sleep.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pressure-flow characteristics and nutritional capacity of coronary veins in dogs

To examine the hemodynamic interdependence of coronary arteries and veins, great cardiac vein (GCV) and left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery flows of dogs were measured. Although they were not different under base-line conditions, 42.9 +/- 4.1 and 34.9 +/- 5.2 ml/min, respectively, LAD occlusion caused only a 56% decrease in GCV flow, whereas peak GCV flow during reactive hyperemia consistently underestimated peak LAD flow by nearly 40%. The measured hemodynamic data were very closely predicted by a simple model that assumed the presence of a low-resistance venous collateral anastomotic pathway between the GCV and veins outside the LAD territory. The resistance of the venous collaterals averaged 9.9 +/- 3.0% of LAD resistance. Therefore, GCV flow does not solely represent LAD collateral flow when the LAD is occluded, nor is it a reliable indicator of changes in LAD perfusion patterns. Nutritional myocardial perfusion assessed with 133Xe washout decreased from 0.86 +/- 0.16 to 0.13 +/- 0.02 ml.min-1.g-1 after LAD occlusion, whereas retroperfusion of the GCV with arterial blood enhanced washout by 85% to 0.23 +/- 0.03 ml.min-1.g-1 (P less than 0.005). Retroperfusion was inefficient, however, since only 10% of the isotope injected into the GCV gained access to the myocardium.

Skin blood flow in sheep: comparison of xenon-133 washout and radioactive microsphere techniques

Blood flow was measured in leg and torso skin of conscious or anesthetized sheep by using 15-micron radioactive microspheres (Qm) and the 133Xe washout method (QXe). There was a good relationship between Qm in the cutaneous compartment and QXe calculated from the fast component of the biexponential washout curves (QXe = 0.40.Qm + 6.2, r = 0.90, P less than 0.001) with QXe values substantially below those determined with microspheres. Only at low blood flow levels was there a tendency for QXe to overestimate capillary blood flow as assessed with microspheres, but at higher blood flow levels the 133Xe washout method resulted in values substantially below those determined with microspheres. The slope of the slow component of the washout curves was inversely related to the tissue-blood partition coefficient in the subcutaneous tissue (r = 0.52, P less than 0.001), indicating an influence of the amount of subcutaneous fat on the washout rate. QXe calculated from the slow component of the washout curves was not significantly correlated with Qm in the subcutaneous compartment (r = 0.19, P greater than 0.10). In leg skin with dilated arteriovenous anastomoses, QXe was generally higher than in torso skin and leg skin with constricted arteriovenous anastomoses, indicating that shunt blood flow increases the washout of 133Xe.