The effect of short-term and long-term femoral artery ligation on rat calf muscle oxygen tension, blood flow, metabolism and function.

The effect of short-term (1 day-1 week) and long-term (6-12 weeks) femoral artery ligation on the oxygen tension (pO2), blood flow, metabolism and function of rat gastrocnemius muscle has been examined. Femoral artery ligation reduced resting blood flow, pO2 and pH. Concomitantly, the concentration of high energy phosphates was reduced and the muscle lactate concentration increased. The fatigue developed by the gastrocnemius/plantaris muscle, during a 10 min period of isometric exercise, was increased and the associated hyperaemia was attenuated. The surgery, performed to ligate the artery, induced an increase in the plasma fibrinogen concentration and whole blood viscosity. As the time interval increased after the femoral artery ligation there was a progressive reduction of the magnitude of the effects. Ten weeks after ligation resting muscle concentrations of high energy phosphates and lactate, whole blood viscosity and muscle pH had normalized. However, resting muscle blood flow, pO2, ability to sustained isometric exercise and the exercise induced hyperaemia were still reduced compared to intact animals. Comparison with literature data reveals that the changes produced by chronic femoral artery ligation in rat calf muscle mimic those seen in man with intermittent claudication.