An increase in the transmural venous pressure, triggered by the acute venous congestion of a limb below the heart level, leads to localized vasoconstriction called veno-arteriolar reflex (VAR) [1]. This response exists in all tissues of the limbs, including subcutaneous adipose tissue, muscles and skin and is absent in diabetes mellitus. It could be associated with the activation of sympathetic vasoconstrictor or vasodilator nerves [2] but the complete mechanism is not clear yet. The aim of our study was to compare the VAR in the skin spots with different vascular anatomy and sympathetic innervation: in glabrous (presence of arteriovenous anastomoses, sympathetic adrenergic innervation) and nonglabrous skin ( no arteriovenous anastomoses, cholinergic sympathetic innervation) and at the different levels of sympathetic tone, provoked by hole body exercise. The transmural venous pressure in the calf (TMVPC) was changed by the use compression calf sleeves (CCS). In nine young healthy volunteers laser-Doppler skin blood flow (LDF) was measured in the finger pulp of the toe (glabrous skin) and on the dorsum of the foot (non-glabrous skin) at different transmural venous pressures in the calf: in the sitting position, wearing the compression calf sleeves or not. Arterial blood pressure was assessed simultaneously. Measurements were conducted at rest and three times in the recovery after submaximal cycling: in the 1st, 15th and 25th minute after exercise. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated. At rest, statistically significant differences were found in LDF and CVC with respect to TMVPC in glabrous (LDF: 56,51±12,48PU without and 87,06±15,93PU with CCS; P=0,04) and in nonglabrous skin (LDF: 6,76±1,15PU without and 9,41±1,54PU with CCS; P=0,04). After exercise, there were no statistically significant changes in LDF and CVC of both skin types with respect to TMVPC at 1st, 15th and 25th minute. VAR is present in glabrous as well as in nonglabrous skin at rest. On the contrary, after physical exertion, VAR disappeared in both skin spots indicating that blood flow through arteriovenous anastomoses, present in glabrous skin after exercise due to thermoregulation is not involved in VAR. Sympathetic tone, declining during recovery, does not affect VAR in vasodilator nerves of nonglabrous skin. Further investigation should be conducted to elucidate the mechanism of this reflex.