Flow measurement in the carotid body of the cat by the hydrogen clearance method.

A technique is described which enables the determination of local blood flow in different points of the carotid body. The blood flow measured in the middle zone of the catorid body at mean blood pressure of 120 to 130 mm Hg was about 2000 ml/100 gxmin and corresponded to the total flow values known thus far. It was found that the flow/g weight decreases from the arterial inflow towards the periphery. Under our experimental conditions no signs of autoregulation could be detected. Under special experimental conditions differnnt flow distributions were observed in the carotid body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]