Intestinal Blood Flow and Oxygen Consumption

Abstract

In this study, we examined the effects of both pharmacologically and mechanically induced increases in intestinal blood flow on intestinal oxygen consumption. Intraarterial infusions of prostacyclin (1-20 ng X kg-1 X min-1) significantly increased both blood flow and oxygen consumption under free flow conditions. However, the increase in oxygen consumption appears to be due to the corresponding increase in blood flow rather than a direct effect of prostacyclin on intestinal metabolism. This conclusion is supported by the finding that a mechanically induced increase in intestinal blood flow (60%) can also produce an increase in intestinal oxygen consumption (24%). These findings support the hypothesis that intestinal oxygen consumption is flow-dependent over a wide range of blood flows.