Systemic arteries in experimental hypoxia in rats

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Abstract
Rats were exposed to hypoxia by placing them in a tank with a continuous flow of 11% O2 and 89% N for 2-4 wk. The medial thickness of intrahepatic, intramyocardial coronary and bronchial arteries was measured in 6 hypoxic rats and compared to those in 6 control rats. The media of hypoxic rats was significantly thinner than that of control rats. Hypoxemia, probably by inducing relaxation of the arterial smooth msucle, causes atrophy and/or dilatation of the vessels. It was observed also that bronchial arteries in hypoxic and in control rats had a thinner media than other systemic arteries.