High-flow isolation perfusion of the rat hind limb in vivo.

An in vivo model for perfusion chemotherapy of the rat hind limb is described in which perfusion at a predetermined flow rate of up to 4 ml.min-1 can be rapidly established in a tourniquet-isolated limb. Standard additions to the semisynthetic perfusion medium included glucose, insulin, and lactate from fresh human erythrocytes. Arteriovenous differences in oxygen content revealed a gradual increase with time of the rate of oxygen consumption until a plateau phase was reached. The plateau rates of oxygen consumption, and of utilization of lactate and of acetoacetate, when supplied, were significantly higher at 4 ml flow.min-1 than at 1.2 ml.min-1. When perfusion was performed at 4 ml.min-1, and suitable metabolic substrates were supplied, the rate of oxygen consumption at the plateau level was apparently equal to the estimated in vivo rate.