Studies on arteriovenous anastomoses in rabbits. Part I. Arteriovenous anastomoses and the effect of sympathectomy on the development of trophic ulceration after sciatic nerve transection in rabbits.

The effect of sympathectomy on the functional state of skin arteriovenous anastomoses (AVA) and on the development of trophic ulceration after sciatic nerve transection was studied in rabbits. The functional state of the AVA (their opening or occlusion) was determined on the basis of gasometric and radiological investigations. The experiments showed that sympathectomy leads to an occlusion of AVA or at least to a marked reduction in blood flow through that part of microcirculation. The improvement in nutritional flow due to the increase in capillary flow and reduction in AVA flow hampers to a certain degree the development of the ulceration and results in transient healing. A hypothesis is presented about different innervation pathways of AVA and precapillary sphincters.