Pancreatic Circulation: Intrinsic Regulation

The purpose of the present study was to characterize the intrinsic mechanisms involved in the regulation of blood flow and oxygenation in the totally isolated, perfused canine pancreas. Arterial pressure, venous outflow pressure, blood flow, arteriovenous oxygen difference, and capillary filtration coefficient were measured during graded arterial pressure reductions and venous pressure elevation. Reductions in arterial pressure caused pancreatic blood flow and vascular resistance to decrease, whereas venous pressure elevation resulted in a decreased blood flow and increased vascular resistance. The reductions in blood flow produced by arterial and venous pressure alterations were associated with increases in oxygen extraction and capillary filtration coefficient. During the same pressure perturbations, oxygen uptake remained constant between blood flows of 40-100 ml.min-1.100 g-1, yet decreased progressively as blood flow was reduced below 40 ml.min-1.100 g-1. Arterial occlusion resulted in a postocclusive reactive hyperemia, the magnitude of which was related to the duration of occlusion. The findings of this study suggest that intrinsic regulation of pancreatic blood flow can be attributed to both metabolic and myogenic mechanisms. Resistance and exchange vessels both appear to play a role in the regulation of oxygen delivery to the pancreatic parenchyma.