A new research technique to determine changes in blood capillary flow.

Abstract

DESPITE advances in experimental technology, measurement of capillary blood flow and tissue perfusion has remained an enigma. Most current methods involve an estimate of small vessel flow based upon a measurement of flow in a major artery leading to the organ in question. These methods necessitate the use of anesthesia and operative manipulation, both of which alter the dynamics of small vessel flow. Furthermore, techniques utilizing measurement of large vessel flow fail to differentiate nutritive (capillary) flow and nonnutritive flow through arteriovenous pathways. A method is needed which will measure capillary blood flow in the nonanesthetized animal without operative trauma. This report describes such a method. Potassium Chloride K 42 as a Determinant of Capillary Blood Flow Sapirstein and co-workers have shown that, from 9 to 64 seconds following a single intravenous injection of trace amounts of potassium chloride K 42, the amount of 42 K in a given