"Tissue need" and limb collateral arterial growth. Skeletal contractile power and perfusion during collateral development in the rat.

Among the factors that might influence collateral arterial growth after arterial occlusion, the capacity to deliver blood flow in relation to metabolic need and work performance are obvious candidates. In this study in rats after superficial femoral artery ligation, we assessed collateral arterial growth (by arteriography), basal and peak limb blood flow during acetylcholine-induced vasodilation (by electronic drop counting), pressure-flow relations, and contractile power of the gastrocnemius muscle (force transduction during sciatic nerve stimulation) at intervals over 3 months after superficial femoral artery ligation. Basal and peak blood flow and muscle contractile power were clearly reduced 1 week after ligation but had returned to normal by 3 weeks. Major collateral arterial growth, however, progressed between 3 weeks and 3 months. The limb perfusion pressure-blood flow relation was still altered at 3 weeks, with blunting of the normal autoregulation, and became more normal by 3 months after superficial femoral artery ligation. Collateral arterial growth continues after blood flow adequate to maintain work performance has been restored and may reflect a response to more subtle abnormalities involving distal pressure delivery, evident in altered pressure-flow relations.