Flow-induced oxygen uptake by the perfused rat hindlimb is inhibited by vasodilators and augmented by norepinephrine: a possible role for the microvasculature in hindlimb thermogenesis.

Oxygen uptake in the perfused rat hindlimb was studied at 25 degrees C using an artificial perfusate, and the effects of perfusate flow rate, norepinephrine, and vasodilators were compared. Hindlimb oxygen uptake and perfusion pressure each increased as the flow rate was increased stepwise from 2 to 18.5 mL/min per hindlimb. At each flow rate, the rate of oxygen uptake was inhibited by the vasodilator nitroprusside (0.5 mM) and increased by norepinephrine (5 nM). A corresponding change in perfusion pressure also occurred, with norepinephrine leading to a marked increase and nitroprusside leading to a decrease; however, changes in oxygen uptake and pressure were not linearly related. The lactate/pyruvate ratio of the perfusate was used as an index of tissue perfusion and was determined at each flow rate. Lactate and pyruvate efflux increased as the flow rate was increased stepwise from 2 to 18.5 mL/min per hindlimb. At 2 mL/min per hindlimb, the lactate/pyruvate ratio was 15; at flow rates equal or greater than 4 mL/min per hindlimb, the ratio was constant at 9. Nitroprusside had no significant effect on the ratio at any flow rate even though a marked inhibitory effect on oxygen uptake was evident. Muscle content of high energy phosphates at 8 mL/min per hindlimb did not differ before and after treatment with vasodilators. In addition, the vasodilators had no apparent effect on skeletal muscle oxygen uptake or force development during electrical stimulation. The findings indicate that oxygen uptake by the hindlimb is not limited by inadequate perfusion and that oxygen uptake can be further increased by norepinephrine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)