Intrinsic control of colonic blood flow and oxygenation

In a denervated autoperfused dog colon preparation, arterial perfusion pressure, venous outflow pressure, blood flow, and arteriovenous O2 difference were measured during graded arterial pressure alterations, arterial occlusion, venous pressure elevation, venous occlusion, and local intra-arterial infusion of adenosine. As perfusion pressure was reduced from 100 to 30 mmHg, colonic blood flow decreased and arteriovenous O2 difference increased. Although blood flow was not autoregulated O2 delivery was maintained within 10% of control between 70 to 100 mmHg and then decreased with further reduction in perfusion pressure. Arterial occlusion (15, 30, and 60 s) resulted in a postocclusion reactive hyperemia; the magnitude of the hyperemia was directly related to the duration of occlusion. Venous occlusion resulted in a postocclusion reactive hypoemia. Elevation of venous pressure from 0 to 20 mmHg increased vascular resistance, O2 extraction, and the capillary filtration coefficient, but decreased O2 delivery. Infusion of adenosine decreased vascular resistance and O2 extraction, but increased O2 delivery. These data suggest that both metabolic and myogenic mechanisms are involved in the control of colonic blood flow and oxygenation.