Estimation of shunting, systemic and pulmonary output of the heart, and regional blood flow distribution in unanaesthetized lizards (Varanus exanthematicus) by injection of radioactively labelled microspheres

Abstract

Circulatory parameters in a lizard (Varanus exanthematicus) were determined using the microsphere method. Microspheres (MS) (slightly larger than the erythrocytes and labelled with different gamma-emitting isotopes) were injected into a pulmonary vein or the left atrium for determination of the left-to-right (L-R) shunt and the regional distribution of the ventricular systemic output. Injections were also made into the sinus venosus for determination of the right-to-left (R-L) shunt. The relative blood flow was obtained as the ratio of the MS activity found in the various tissues over the total activity injected. Absolute calibration of the method was performed by introduction of an ‘artificial organ’ into the circulatory system (Hales, 1973). Ventricular systemic output (VSO), in five animals, averaged 121 ml/ (min.kg) and ventricular pulmonary output 119 ml/(min. kg). The value of VSO was significantly higher than those observed in other lizard species. In all experimental animals both R-L as well as L-R shunting of various extent occurred. The reliability of the microsphere method as applied in lizards is discussed and is considered to be relatively accurate even under conditions of incomplete mixing of shunted and unshunted blood in systemic heart output.