Oxygen uptake and tissue oxygen tension during adrenergic stimulation in canine subcutaneous adipose tissue

The effect of sympathetic nerve stimulation (NS) and injected noradenaline (NA) or isoprenaline (Iso) on PVO2, VO2 and PtO2 was studied in isolated canine subcutaneous adipose tissue. These effects were compared to those produced by mechanical blood flow reduction (clamping). Resting VO2 measured 13.0+/- 2.3 mumol X min-1 X 100 g-1. When blood flow was reduced by 20% or less there was no significant change of VO2. Reducing blood flow to 50% of control or less by NS caused a parallel reduction in VO2, while clamping reduced VO2 significantly less. NA gave effects similar to those of NS. After NS or NA there was a period of hyperemia and increased oxygen extraction which more than compensated for the decrease in VO2 during vasoconstriction. Such a net increase in VO2 was not produced by clamping. Control PtO2 averaged 29+/-2 mmHg. NA reduced it by 70% and clamping to the same blood flow level only by 14% (p less than 0.01). Thus, a mere reduction in blood flow has little effect on PtO2, while blood flow reduction combined with redistribution of blood flow and an increased oxygen deman can lead to tissue hypoxia.