Abstract
Using laser Doppler techniques in man, we have previously demonstrated that skin blood flow decreases linearly with age. In previous work, we have shown similarities in skin blood flow properties between man and the rat. Our goal was to assess a possible aging effect of skin blood flow in the rat. We determined skin blood flow sequentially in 13 Wistar-Kyoto rats, beginning at 3 months of age, then at 6, 12, 15 and 18 months. We measured flow on the back, the base of the tail, the upper leg, all nutritively (NUTR) perfused sites, and on the plantar paw surface, which is perfused chiefly by arteriovenous anastomotic (AVA) capillaries. We measured flow, microvascular volume and red blood cell velocity at basal temperature and also heated the skin locally to 44°C, to elicit maximal vasodilation. Skin blood flow declined in a linear fashion with increasing age. The decrease was in the order of 15% over 18 months and occurred at both NUTR sites and the paw. The decrease was due to reduced microvascular volume, presumably representing loss of skin capillaries. Red blood cell velocity was not reduced; in fact, it was significantly increased at several NUTR sites. The WKY rat provides an excellent model of aging of the skin microvasculature. The changes we have demonstrated, while not identical to those we have previously demonstrated in man, are sufficiently similar to permit further exploration of the mechanisms of these changes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 511-518 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology -- Part A: Physiology |
| Volume | 111 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1995 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Physiology
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The effect of aging on skin blood flow in the Wistar-Kyoto rat. / Rendell, Marc; Milliken, Brian K.; McIntyre, Steven F.; Satterlee, Michele; Eckermann, August J.
In: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology -- Part A: Physiology, Vol. 111, No. 3, 1995, p. 511-518.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of aging on skin blood flow in the Wistar-Kyoto rat
AU - Rendell, Marc
AU - Milliken, Brian K.
AU - McIntyre, Steven F.
AU - Satterlee, Michele
AU - Eckermann, August J.
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - Using laser Doppler techniques in man, we have previously demonstrated that skin blood flow decreases linearly with age. In previous work, we have shown similarities in skin blood flow properties between man and the rat. Our goal was to assess a possible aging effect of skin blood flow in the rat. We determined skin blood flow sequentially in 13 Wistar-Kyoto rats, beginning at 3 months of age, then at 6, 12, 15 and 18 months. We measured flow on the back, the base of the tail, the upper leg, all nutritively (NUTR) perfused sites, and on the plantar paw surface, which is perfused chiefly by arteriovenous anastomotic (AVA) capillaries. We measured flow, microvascular volume and red blood cell velocity at basal temperature and also heated the skin locally to 44°C, to elicit maximal vasodilation. Skin blood flow declined in a linear fashion with increasing age. The decrease was in the order of 15% over 18 months and occurred at both NUTR sites and the paw. The decrease was due to reduced microvascular volume, presumably representing loss of skin capillaries. Red blood cell velocity was not reduced; in fact, it was significantly increased at several NUTR sites. The WKY rat provides an excellent model of aging of the skin microvasculature. The changes we have demonstrated, while not identical to those we have previously demonstrated in man, are sufficiently similar to permit further exploration of the mechanisms of these changes.
AB - Using laser Doppler techniques in man, we have previously demonstrated that skin blood flow decreases linearly with age. In previous work, we have shown similarities in skin blood flow properties between man and the rat. Our goal was to assess a possible aging effect of skin blood flow in the rat. We determined skin blood flow sequentially in 13 Wistar-Kyoto rats, beginning at 3 months of age, then at 6, 12, 15 and 18 months. We measured flow on the back, the base of the tail, the upper leg, all nutritively (NUTR) perfused sites, and on the plantar paw surface, which is perfused chiefly by arteriovenous anastomotic (AVA) capillaries. We measured flow, microvascular volume and red blood cell velocity at basal temperature and also heated the skin locally to 44°C, to elicit maximal vasodilation. Skin blood flow declined in a linear fashion with increasing age. The decrease was in the order of 15% over 18 months and occurred at both NUTR sites and the paw. The decrease was due to reduced microvascular volume, presumably representing loss of skin capillaries. Red blood cell velocity was not reduced; in fact, it was significantly increased at several NUTR sites. The WKY rat provides an excellent model of aging of the skin microvasculature. The changes we have demonstrated, while not identical to those we have previously demonstrated in man, are sufficiently similar to permit further exploration of the mechanisms of these changes.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029032366&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0300-9629(95)00007-T
DO - 10.1016/0300-9629(95)00007-T
M3 - Article
VL - 111
SP - 511
EP - 518
JO - Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Physiology
JF - Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Physiology
SN - 1095-6433
IS - 3
ER -