Regional characteristics in spontaneous rhythmic variations of cutaneous blood flow in human volunteers

Abstract

Spontaneous, rhythmic variation of cutaneous blood flow (CuBF), – vasomotion, with dominant frequencies ranging from 1.5 to 20 cycles/min (cpm, 0.025–0.33 Hz) – was identified previously in the human forehead and forearm skin using laser‐Doppler flowmetry (LDF) (1). Our purpose was to extend these studies by investigating vasomotion in 15 different skin regions, and testing the reproducibility of the determination of vasomotion by LDF as compared with the determination of postocclusive hyperemia of the forearm skin. LDF data were recorded 3 times (0, 1, 12 months) in healthy young volunteers (20–22 years old, n=14) as described (1). Vasomotion was found in 11 skin regions. The dominant frequency of vasomotion significantly decreased from the midline to the more lateral skin areas, (mean±SEM, *p<0.05) from 7.9±0.3 (forehead) to 5.8±0.5* cpm (lateral thigh). Characteristics of vasomotion did not change over time (e.g.: on the templates 8.4±0.3, 8.3±0.4, and after 12 months 8.4±0.4, 8.3±0.4 cpm, respectively). In contrast, peak and area under the curve CuBF values of reactive hyperemia were highly variable during the repeated challenges. Our data indicate that the oscillations in the microcirculation exhibit a regional‐dependent pattern which seems largely time‐invariant whereas the parameters of reactive hyperaemia shows poor solidity. Ref: (1) Microvasc Res 70:121–8, 2005. Supported by OTKA K63401.