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

The purpose of the experiments was to investigate the effect of transient ischaemia on the functional state of skin arteriovenous anastomoses (AVA) and on the development of trophic ulceration after sciatic nerve transection in rabbit. The functional state of AVA (their opening or occlusion) was determined on the basis of gasometric investigations of venous blood oxygenation. The experiments showed that transient ischaemia leads to a marked reduction in blood flow through the open (as the result of sciatic nerve transection) AVA in the ischaemic limb. Vascular dilatation developing until collateral blood flow is established, increased capillary and decreased AVA flow do not prevent the formation of ulceration after sciatic nerve transection but significantly delay its development and alleviate its course.