Intercapillary distances and capillary reserve in right and left ventricles: Significance for control of tissue pO2

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Abstract

Distances between capillaries perfused with erythrocytes were measured by stopmotion microcinematography in rat hearts beating in situ. In 18 animals mean intercapillary distance (ICD) was 14.44 μm in the left ventricle and 15.47 μm in the right. These values correspond to about 2815 and 2530 perfused capillaries/mm2. respectively. The difference in ICD is statistically significant. Calculations indicate that the shorter diffusion path in the working left ventricle has a significant effect on O2 transport. On the other hand, minimum ICD is longer and maximum capillary density is smaller in the left ventricle. Thus a larger fraction of the available capillaries is utilized in the normal, working left ventricle. The estimated capillary reserve is 750/mm2 in the left ventricle and 1500/mm2 in the right. The shorter ICD in the beating left ventricle appears to reflect control of coronary precapillary sphincters by local tissue pO2.

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Permanent address: Université de Besancon, Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques, Laboratoire de Physiologie Animale, 25030 Besancon Cedex, France.

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