FUNCTIONAL STATE OF THE SKIN MICROCIRCULATION BED IN HEALTHY FEMALES IN THE CONDITION OF DRY IMMERSION

Abstract

Functional state of skin microcirculation vessels was studied in female subjects during 3-d dry immersion (DI). Microcirculation was investigated on the forehead, shin, forearm, fingers and toes with the use of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and computer based video capillaroscopy. LDF showed that DI induced local changes in the level of perfusion, largely due to an increased myogenic control of the microvascular tone. Video capillaroscopy detected an upward trend in the number of functioning capillaries after DI; dimensions of the pericapillary zone remained unchanged.