Hyperoxia decreases cutaneous blood flow in high-perfusion areas

The mechanism by which hyperoxia decreases blood flow is still not understood. Hyperoxemia-induced vasoconstriction is known to occur in many organs, including brain and retina, skeletal muscle, and myocardium. Whether this also occurs in skin is unknown. This study was conducted in healthy volunteers exposed intermittently to 100% oxygen (F(I)O(2) 1.0). Perfusion of forearm skin was measured by laser Doppler imaging (LDI). In series 1, it was measured in 7 subjects before, during, and after 15 min of oxygen breathing. In series 2, flow was measured, also during air and O(2) breathing, after perfusion was raised by (a) sympathetic blockade (induced by a topically applied local anesthetic) (n=9) and by (b) current-induced vasodilation (n=8). In normal unperturbed skin, there was no significant change with hyperoxia. When basal perfusion was raised by topical anesthesia or by current, there was also no change in mean perfusion overall with hyperoxia. However, areas with the highest perfusion (upper decile) showed a significant perfusion decrement with hyperoxia (-30% and -20%, respectively; p<0.001). Vasoconstriction with hyperoxia has been demonstrated in human skin. The fact that it is observed only when flow is increased above basal levels and then only in high-flow vessels suggests that cutaneous blood flow control is primarily regulated by variables other than oxygen.