This study evaluated the possibility that during skeletal muscle contractions tissue O2 tension (Po2) around arterioles and venules decreases substantially more than in the middle of the capillary bed and thereby influences functional hyperemia. Periarteriolar [H+] and [K+] were also measured because most large arterioles are in close proximity to venules such that the biochemical status of the periarteriolar tissue could be influenced by a large decrease in O2 availability in the annulet of tissue surrounding the venules. Stimulation frequencies in the range of 2-12 Hz were used to activate the rat spinotrapezius muscle. Periarteriolar and capillary bed Po2, [H+], and [K+] changed during the first few minutes of stimulation but were restored to near resting concentrations as the functional hyperemia developed. However, perivenular Po2 decreased rapidly to approximately 50-60% of the resting gas tension as contractions began, and only minor recovery occurred. Elevation of tissue and periarteriolar Po2 with an O2-enriched superfusion solution did not prevent dilation during contractions to the same diameter as during the response at very low superfusion Po2. Therefore, the extent to which O2 influences arteriolar dilation and exercise hyperemia in the spinotrapezius muscle of the rat may depend less on periarteriolar and capillary bed Po2 than on the release of vasoactive materials from the nearby perivenular tissues as the availability of O2 decreases.