Experimental and theoretical studies of oxygen gradients in rat pial microvessels.

Using modified oxygen needle microelectrodes and intravital videomicroscopy, measurements were made of tissue oxygen tension (PO(2)) profiles near cortical arterioles and transmural PO(2) gradients in the pial arterioles of the rat. Under control conditions, the transmural PO(2) gradient averaged 1.17+/-0.