Erythrocyte-associated transients in PO2 revealed in capillaries of rat mesentery

Mathematical models have predicted the existence of PO(2) gradients between erythrocytes in capillaries in the usual case where plasma contributes substantial resistance to oxygen diffusion. According to theoretical predictions, these gradients could be detected as rapid PO(2) fluctuations (erythrocyte-associated transients, EATs) along the capillary. However, verification of a model and correct choice of its parameters can be made only on the basis of direct experimental measurements. We used phosphorescence quenching microscopy to measure PO(2) in 52 capillaries of rat mesentery to obtain plasma PO(2) values 100 times/s at a given point along a capillary. A 532-nm laser generated 10-mu s pulses of light, concentrated by a x100 objective, onto a spot 0.9 mu m in diameter. The presence of erythrocytes in the excitation region was detected on the basis of phosphorescence amplitude (PA), proportional to the amount of plasma encountered by the laser beam, and on the basis of the intensity of transmitted laser light (LT), detected by a photodiode placed under the capillary. The data revealed correlated waveforms in PA, LT, and PO(2) in capillaries. The magnitude of the PO(2) gradients between erythrocytes and plasma was correlated with average capillary PO(2). EATs in PO(2) were more readily detected in capillaries with relatively low oxygenation. The correlation coefficients between PA and PO(2) for the half of the capillaries (n = 26) below the median PO(2) (mean PO(2) = 17 mmHg; R = -0.72) was higher than that for the other half (mean PO(2) = 39 mmHg; R = -0.38). These results support the theoretical predictions of EATs and plasma PO(2) gradients in capillaries.