[Muscle oxygen supply following total blood replacement with an oxygen-transporting blood substitute]

Mathematical model revealed the O2 distribution within the microspace among capillaries under conditions of resting and contracting muscle. The blood--substitute did not provide complete saturation of the muscle with oxygen in initial state. Nevertheless involvement of physiological responses compensating for lack of the O2 in the muscle (acceleration of blood flow and mobilizing of reserve capillaries) aided to complete saturation of the muscle with oxygen and maintained a certain level of contractile activity.