Autoregulation of diaphragmatic blood flow in dogs

In eight anesthetized spontaneously breathing dogs, we determined whether diaphragmatic blood flow is dependent on arterial blood pressure (Pa) or whether it is autoregulated. We also determined whether diaphragmatic muscular activity affects the degree of autoregulation. We measured blood flow through the left phrenic artery (Qphr) with an electromagnetic flow probe and decreased Pa in steps by controlled hemorrhage. Phrenic venous blood was sampled to allow the calculation of diaphragmatic O2 consumption (VO2phr). Diaphragmatic energy demands were varied by using three inspiratory resistances (R1, R2, and R3), which increased peak transdiaphragmatic pressure two-, three-, and fourfold, respectively. During quiet breathing, Qphr was independent of Pa between Pa of 90 and 120 mmHg (i.e., plateau of pressure-flow relation), but at lower Pa, Qphr was directly related to Pa. During inspiratory loading, the Qphr plateau ended at a higher Pa than with quiet breathing, but within the normal ranges of Pa there still was a plateau. VO2phr at a given work load was constant between Pa of 70 and 120 mmHg, but at Pa of 50-55 mmHg, VO2phr declined with all work loads. We conclude that in spontaneously breathing dogs 1) Qphr is autoregulated over the normal range of blood pressures and 2) VO2phr is maintained over wider ranges of Pa than Qphr.