Respiratory GAS Exchange and pO2- Distribution in Splenic Tissue

Little attention has been paid to physiological aspects of O2 supply to splenic tissue. Studies are performed to examine the factors determining the supply conditions for the rabbit’s spleen, which has little reservoir function and, therefore, it is very similar to the human spleen. Previous studies on respiratory gas exchange, applying the arterial and spleno-venous blood gas values, have shown a mean arterio-venous O2-difference of 0.5 Vol.% (2). Taking into account a mean splenic blood flow of 110 ml/100g/min (12), the O2 consumption of splenic tissue amounts to 0.6 ml/100g/min.