CONTROL OF THE MICROCIRCULATION IN THE HIND-LIMB SKELETAL-MUSCLE VASCULAR BED OF THE POSSUM (TRICHOSURUS-VULPECULA)

1. Sympathetic stimulation of the hind limb vasculature of the possum produced a reduction in the limb blood flow and the limb volume. 2. At supramaximal frequencies, the responses of both capacitance and resistance vessels was reduced in both the possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) and the cat (Felis catus). 3. Capillary filtration coefficients for the possum were different when estimated by increasing the venous outflow pressure (0.043 ± 0.008 SD) from those estimated by decreasing the venous outflow pressure (0.067 ± 0.022 SD). Either value was significantly greater than that recorded by Mellander (1960) for the cat (0.02-0.03). © 1979.