Abstract
Summary
Experiments were completed in collateral free, constant flow perfused dog gracilis muscles to determine the effects of local increases in H+ on skeletal muscle vascular resistance. Blood pH was decreased step-wise by intraarterial infusions of isotonic lactic or acetic acid solutions. A decrease in pH with either of these acids was associated with a step-wise decrease in muscle vascular resistance. While it was clearly demonstrated that hydrogen ion is vasodilator in skeletal muscle, the H+ effect appears to be too small to account for the substantial decrease in resistance characteristic of active or reactive hyperemia.
This research was supported in part by Grants from the Michigan Heart Association and NIH (HE10899). The authors are grateful for the technical assistance of Scott Underwood and Robert Young.
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