Blood flow in peripheral nerves. Normal and post severance flow rates.

Regional blood flow has been measured in the sciatic nerve of cats utilizing the method of hydrogen polarography. The mean baseline flow of the sciatic nerve in cats was found to be 43 ml/100 g/min +/- 1.6 SD. Flow rates were somewhat erratic in both the proximal and distal segments of the nerve following nerve severance. The erratic flows were observed over the first 30 min following nerve cutting and by 1 hr had essentially stabilized at approximately the pre-severance flow level.