Introduction: The cutaneous microcirculation is important to maintain body homeostasis. The findings so far showed different response of skin blood flow according to the skin type and different response as per exercise. By measuring only skin blood flow by laser-Doppler, we cannot distinguish between nutritional and functional part of the microcirculation. A possible way of measuring nutritional skin blood flow could be by recording the cutaneous pO2. To our knowledge, our study is the first one which includes cutaneous pO2 measurement in addition to laser-Doppler flow in acral skin during exercise. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to find out the response of the cutaneous microcirculation in acral (finger pad) and non-acral (forearm) skin before exercise, during exercise, and after exercise on exercise bicycle, and to relate this response to anatomic and functional characteristics of both skin types. Methods: 9 healthy volunteers (all men) participated in our study. For every volunteer, we measured tcpO2, skin blood flow, and temperature on both skin sites. We also measured heart rate. We did measurements in a lying position before exercise, sitting before exercise, during exercise on bicycle, and resting after exercise. Data was later analysed using appropriate statistical programs and tests with the significance level of 0.05. Results: Cutaneous vascular conductance (= laser-Doppler flow / mean arterial pressure) in non-acral skin increased during exercise and returned to baseline levels after exercise. Cutaneous pO2 in non-acral skin was changing in positive linear correlation with cutaneous vascular conductance. Cutaneous vascular conductance in acral skin decreased during exercise, and returned to baseline levels after the exercise. Cutaneous pO2 increased during higher loads and decreased during rest. We did not find any linear correlation between cutaneous pO2 and cutaneous vascular conductance in acral skin. Discussion and conclusion: During exercise, non-acral skin is responsible for heat elimination. This task is taken over by acral skin after exercise. Cutaneous vascular conductance increases, but cutaneous pO2 does not follow and decreases. We conclude, that increase in cutaneous vascular conductance in acral skin after exercise occurs because of the arteriovenous anastomoses opening. Cutaneous pO2 is an indicator of nutritional part of the microcirculation. Increase in pO2 of the skin during exercise could be beneficial for chronic wounds healing, and the decrease in pO2 in acral skin could be the cause for symptoms of erythromelalgia.
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