Reference sample method for cardiac output and regional blood flow determinations in the rat.

The reference sample method was used for simultaneous determinations of cardiac output and regional blood flows in conscious rats. Microspheres (15 +/- 5 mum in diam) labeled with strontium-85 were injected into the left ventricle and known volumes of reference sample were withdrawn from peripheral arteries. The calculated cardiac output measurements agreed with the previously reported values in rats. The percent distribution of the cardiac output to the brain, intestinal bed, and lungs were different from the reported values obtained in the rats using larger spheres. These differences may be related to the use of smaller spheres and to differences in the preparation. The absolute regional flows to various organs expressed in terms of milliliters per minute per gram tissue weight were also determined. The results indicate that the reference sample method can be applied to smaller mammals for determinations of regional flows and cardiac output.