Frequency analysis of coronary intercapillary distances: site of capillary control.

Frequency distributions for minimum intercapillary distance (ICD) and functional ICD were characterized for rat heart in situ. Minimum ICD denotes spacings between adjacent capillaries whether they contain erythrocytes or not. Functional ICD is defined as spacings between contiguous capillaries perfused with erythrocytes. Minimum ICD was well fitted by both the gamma and the lognormal distributions. Functional ICD was well fitted by the lognormal, but not by the gamma, or by any mixture of the gamma with another discrete distribution. The frequency analysis is interpreted to mean that: 1) A control site distal to the true arteriole exists. This is presumably the precapillary sphincter. 21 Intercapillary anastomoses help keep the diffusion path in myocardium short and comparatively uniform. 3) Complete closure of arterioles does not occur in the unstressed heart. 4) Blood flow and conditions for diffusion can be controlled independently.