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J Physiol Volume 549, Number 3, 855-863, June 15, 2003 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2002.037994
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J Physiol (2003), 549.3, pp. 855-863
© Copyright 2003 D 2003 The Physiological Society
DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2002.037994

Oxygen partial pressure in outer layers of skin of human finger nail folds

W. Wang*, C. P. Winlove† and C. C. Michel‡

*Medical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, Queen Mary, University of London, London E1 4NS, †Biomedical Physics Group, School of Physics, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4XL and ‡Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK

To gain insight into oxygen transport by the cutaneous microcirculation, we have developed oxygen-sensitive microelectrodes (tip diameter ~5 µm) to measure the distribution of PO2 in dermal papillae of the finger nail folds of healthy human subjects. Oxygen entry into the tissue was minimised by covering the skin with a layer of paraffin oil. The finger was held under a dissecting microscope and microelectrodes were guided into position. PO2 varied from 5-25 % of its atmospheric value, Pair (~160 mmHg), depending on the location within the papilla. Along the axis of a papillary loop, PO2 decreased from 40.0 ± 4.8 mmHg (mean ± S.E.M., n = 6) at the base to 30.4 ± 5.2 mmHg (n = 6) at the tip. The lowest values of PO2, in the range of 5 % of Pair, were measured in the epidermis where the metabolism of cells was highest and the steepest PO2 gradients were recorded in the vicinity of the epidermal-dermal boundary. When the local circulation was abruptly reduced or stopped, PO2 fell exponentially with time, with a time constant of 8.4 ± 1.5 s (n = 7). When flow was reinstated, PO2 rose exponentially to a new value with a time constant of 4.8 ± 0.8 s (n = 6). The steady state PO2 following reperfusion was ~23 % higher than the pre-occlusion value (P < 0.05, ANOVA and two-tailed Student's t test) indicating localised reactive hyperaemia.





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