Relationship Between A Range of Tissue Temperature and Local Oxygen Uptake in the Human Forearm. II. Changes Observed After Arterial Occlusion, in the Period of Reactive Hyperemia

It is generally accepted that the magnitude of the hyperemic response which follows deprivation of local circulation is related to the metabolic needs of the involved tissues (1-3). However, as has already been pointed out (4), conclusions regarding oxygen consumption cannot be based on blood flow measurements alone. In the present investigation, therefore, it was decided to study the excess oxygen uptake of the tissues of the forearm (exclusive of bone) after a period of arterial occlusion, using the Fick principle. Furthermore, it was considered of interest to determine whether or not an experimentally produced alteration in tissue temperature influenced the magnitude of the oxygen repayment during reactive hyperemia in the same manner as has been reported in the case of oxygen uptake of resting tissues (4).