Regional blood flows measured in conscious rats by combined Fick and microsphere methods

Regional blood flow measurements made by the radioactive microsphere technique were studied in conscious rats. A femoral arterial reference sample blood flow was measured directly, and at the same time indirectly by the combined use of direct Fick cardiac output and microsphere techniques. A significant correlation (r = .81, P less than .01) was obtained between direct and indirect blood flow values when 200--400 microspheres were trapped in the reference sample. When 100--200 microspheres were trapped, regional blood flow was 32% below true flow (P less than .01); and cardiac output, calculated by the reference sample method, was 57% greater than Fick cardiac output (P less than .01). When three consecutive Fick determinations and microsphere injections (20,000 per injection, 15 micrometer diam) were made in conscious rats, significant correlations were obtained among the first, second, and third regional blood flow measurements (r = .95, P less than .01). The results have demonstrated that cardiac output and reference blood flow can be measured with accuracy and precision in the conscious rat by the radioactive microsphere procedure.