Perfusion of the human finger during cold-induced vasodilatation

We have investigated the effect of severe local cooling on the vasomotor ac tivity of the arteriovenous anastomoses (AVAs) and other finger vessels. Th e right third finger was subjected to local cooling (3 degrees C) for 30-45 min in 21 healthy, thermoneutral subjects. Blood velocity in the third fin ger arteries of both hands was simultaneously recorded using ultrasound Dop pler, and skin temperature and laser-Doppler flux from the pulp of the cool ed finger were also recorded. The results demonstrate that the initial cold -induced vasoconstriction during severe local cooling involves constriction of the AVAs as well as the two main arteries supplying this finger. During cold-induced vasodilatation (CIVD), the maximum velocity values were not s ignificantly different from those before cooling. Furthermore, the velocity fluctuations in the cooled finger were in most subjects found to be synchr onous with the velocity fluctuations in the control finger. This indicates that the large blood flow to the finger and the high skin temperature durin g CIVD are caused by relaxation of the smooth muscle cells of the AVAs.