Oxygen tension gradients and heterogeneity in venous microcirculation: a phosphorescence quenching study

Localized measurements of intravascular oxygen tension (PO2) at multiple locations in the microvascular network of the rat spinotrapezius muscle were used to study the spatial distribution of PO2 in venular structures. By use of a newly developed phosphorescence system to rapidly and repeatedly measure PO2, 538 individual measurements were made in 18 different networks during rest. Average intravascular PO2 was (in mmHg +/- SD) 33 +/- 9, 21 +/- 9, 26 +/- 10, and 33 +/- 8 in small arcade arterioles, postcapillary venules (PV), 3 degrees venules (3V), and arcade venules, respectively. The coefficient of variation (CV), a descriptive indicator of spatial heterogeneity, was correspondingly 0.28, 0.45, 0.37, and 0.23 for the different vessel groups. PO2 was found to increase significantly (P < 0.001) from PV to 3V, rising 0.009 +/- 0.002 mmHg/microns along the vessel. By linear regression, the slope of PO2 for the vessel difference group, PV-3V as a function of mean systemic blood pressure (BPm; in mmHg) was -0.09 +/- 0.04 (P < 0.05), indicating that the measured longitudinal oxygen gradients and CV are only weakly dependent on BPm. The results support the hypothesis that oxygen can diffuse across the walls of postcapillary vessels and suggest that the venular structures are not merely passive conduits for removing oxygen and waste products but may play an important role in regulating oxygen delivery.