Perforating artery contribution to vascular compensation in the ischemic hindlimb of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)

• Published in: The FASEB journal 2007, Vol.21 (6), p.A1213-A1213
• Main Authors: Ziegler, M. A., Bills, R. G., Distasi, M. R., Miller, S. J., Unthank, J. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0892-6638; 1530-6860
• DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.A1213-c

Impaired collateral development has been reported in the SHR hindlimb. Other studies have identified the perforating artery (PA) as the primary collateral in the rat hindlimb after superficial femoral artery (SFA) ligation. This study investigated the PA contribution to hindlimb perfusion after chronic SFA ligation in SHR retired breeders and young Wistar‐Kyoto (WKY) rats. Laser Doppler imaging (LDI) of the feet indicated perfusion was reduced 59 ± 5.3% initially after ligation. At ≥ 3 wks post‐ligation, foot perfusion (LDI) increased to 82±6.5% and 90±6.1 of control while resting femoral vein flow in the ligated limb measured by perivascular flow probes was 1.19 ± 0.043 and 0.89 ± 0.047 mL/min respectively in WKY and SHR. These resting flows were significantly less than the contralateral control limb (51 ± 6.5% WKY, 43 ± 6.9% SHR) and were not altered by occlusion of the PA near it’s insertion into the popliteal artery. These results suggest that: significant compensation based upon LDI occurs within 3 wks of SFA ligation which is similar in WKY and SHR, femoral vein flow remains significantly suppressed indicating incomplete compensation under even resting conditions the lack of an effect of PA occlusion on femoral vein flow suggests that either this vessel is not important to the chronic compensation in these strains or flow is shunted to other branches or collaterals. Supported by HL42898