Splenic blood flow and intrasplenic flow distribution in rats

In 75 rats, anesthetized with pentobarbital and breathing spontaneously, regional splenic blood flow (rSBF) was measured by means of the85Kr(β)-clearance technique after an intraaortic slug injection of the dissolved indicator. In the normal and undisturbed spleen in situ rSBF is linearly related to the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) within the range of 30–140 mm Hg. Mean rSBF is 0.71 ml/g/min, the mean arterial blood pressure being 105 mm Hg. In normal rats rSBF decreases significantly with increasing body weight or age. After total obstruction of the open circulation by application of rigid spherocytes, mean rSBF is reduced to 0.26 ml/g/min and is independent of the mean arterial blo…