Assessment of left ventricular function in coronary artery disease by impedance cardiography

Combined effect of acute denervation and ischemia on the microcirculation of skeletal muscle

Using direct in vivo videomicroscopy and a fluorescein dye technique, reperfusion injury after 3 h of ischemia was studied in the acutely denervated cremaster muscle of the rat. Compared with normally innervated controls, ischemia-induced reperfusion injury was more severe in the denervated group and included a delay of blood flow recovery, vortex formation, edema, hemorrhage, and vessel spasm. Vessel size was reduced at the arteriole and small artery level, and there was a decrease of reactive hyperemia. The injury mechanism may be related to a loss of active vasomotion and vascular response to vasoactive substances after denervation. The results suggest that shortening the ischemia time of denervated tissues may reduce ischemia-induced reperfusion injury. Similarly, given the same ischemia time, improved tissue reperfusion may be expected if the nerve supply is maintained.