Background. The function of peripheral nerves depends upon an intact blood supply, but the mechanisms regulating blood flow through the blood vessels supplying peripheral nerves remain largely unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of stimulation of arterial and central chemoreceptors and unloading of arterial baroreceptors on sciatic nerve blood flow. In addition, we attempted to evaluate the role of hypoxemia and hypercapnia as local metabolic factors involved in the regulation of blood flow in the sciatic nerve of the rat. Material and methods. The study was carried out on 55 male Wistar rats with the body weight ranging from 300g to 350g. Sciatic nerve blood flow was measured, using a laser Doppler flowmeter, in anaesthetized rats at various arterial blood pressures and during hypercapnia and hypoxemia. Results. We found that sciatic nerve blood vessels do not exhibit autoregulation. Stimulation of arterial and central chemoreceptors did not result in any significant changes in sciatic nerve vascular resistance. During a decrease of mean arterial pressure, there was an increase in vascular resistance in sciatic nerve, which was abolished by pharmacological sympathectomy but not by alpha-adrenergic blockade. Conclusions. Our findings provide evidence that PaO2 and PaCO2 do not influence vasa nervosum resistance in the sciatic nerve.