Influence of hypoxia and hyperoxia on subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow in man.

Subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow (ATBF) was measured by the 133Xe washout method in normal men breathing oxygen at partial pressures from 0.1 to 2 atmospheres. Breathing oxygen at partial pressures of 0.1 and 1 atm. increased and reduced ATBF by 56% and 26%, respectively as compared to air breathing. These effects were highly significant. Breathing of oxygen at 2 atm. partial pressure had no consistent effect on ATBF, although considerable changes--positive or negative--could been seen in some experiments. Oxygen-breathing at 1 atm. partial pressure is associated with a slight hyperventilation and fall in PACO2. This was shown to be without importance for the effect of oxygen on adipose tissue blood flow.