Effects of temperature on oxygen transport in sheets and spheres of respiring tissues

Abstract

The effect of temperature upon the oxygen partial pressure profiles (and hence upon flux) of oxygen through respiring tissues of differing architecture is examined. We have considered the two situations of respiring sheets of tissue and of respiring spheres. Sheets of respiring tissue can model to some extent the behaviour of skin (which abandons its own temperature stasis in response to its obligations in the control of overall body temperature). The oxygen profiles of spheres of respiring tissues subject to temperature shifts is investigated since it is a model for solid tumour oxygen kinetics where a spherical tumour, inadequately supplied with a capillary network, is being treated by one or another form of hyperthermia during cancer therapy.