A STUDY OF VARIOUS INDICES OF ADRENOCORTICAL ACTIVITY DURING 23 DAYS AT HIGH ALTITUDE

1963 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. B. MACKINNON ◽  
M. E. MONK-JONES ◽  
K. FOTHERBY

SUMMARY 1. Four men and three women ascended by télépherique and helicopter from 1000 to 4333 m. where they remained for 23 days. 2. Measurements of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids, 17-oxosteroids, pregnanediol and pregnanetriol and circulating eosinophils were made at sea level and at high altitude. 3. An attempt was also made to measure changes in emotional activity by means of the palmar sweat index (PSI). This index was assessed at intervals throughout the day at sea level and at high altitude, and in response to adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and a self-imposed stress. 4. Within 24 hr. of acute exposure to high altitude urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids increased whilst circulating eosinophils decreased; by the 5th day both were returning to sea-level values. The output of 17-oxosteroids was lower by the 5th day at high altitude and subsequently increased; pregnanediol and pregnanetriol levels remained unchanged. 5. PSIs throughout the day become progressively lower as the length of stay at altitude increased. The response to ACTH at sea level and high altitude appeared to be similar but the response to a self-imposed stress was longer in duration at high altitude than at sea level.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Jun Shi ◽  
Jin-Li Wang ◽  
Ling Gao ◽  
Dong-Lin Wen ◽  
Qing Dan ◽  
...  

Many sea-level residents suffer from acute mountain sickness (AMS) when first visiting altitudes above 4,000 m. Exercise tolerance also decreases as altitude increases. We observed exercise capacity at sea level and under a simulated hypobaric hypoxia condition (SHHC) to explore whether the response to exercise intensity represented by physiological variables could predict AMS development in young men. Eighty young men from a military academy underwent a standard treadmill exercise test (TET) and biochemical blood test at sea level, SHHC, and 4,000-m altitude, sequentially, between December 2015 and March 2016. Exercise-related variables and 12-lead electrocardiogram parameters were obtained. Exercise intensity and AMS development were investigated. After exposure to high altitude, the count of white blood cells, alkaline phosphatase and serum albumin were increased (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in exercise time and metabolic equivalents (METs) between SHHC and high-altitude exposures (7.05 ± 1.02 vs. 7.22 ± 0.96 min, P = 0.235; 9.62 ± 1.11 vs. 9.38 ± 1.12, P = 0.126, respectively). However, these variables were relatively higher at sea level (8.03 ± 0.24 min, P < 0.01; 10.05 ± 0.31, P < 0.01, respectively). Thus, subjects displayed an equivalent exercise tolerance upon acute exposure to high altitude and to SHHC. The trends of cardiovascular hemodynamics during exercise under the three different conditions were similar. However, both systolic blood pressure and the rate–pressure product at every TET stage were higher at high altitude and under the SHHC than at sea level. After acute exposure to high altitude, 19 (23.8%) subjects developed AMS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that METs under the SHHC {odds ratio (OR) 0.355 per unit increment [95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.159−0.793], P = 0.011}, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at rest under SHHC [OR 0.893 per mmHg (95%CI 0.805−0.991), P = 0.030], and recovery DBP 3 min after exercise at sea level [OR 1.179 per mmHg (95%CI 1.043−1.333), P = 0.008] were independently associated with AMS. The predictive model had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.886 (95%CI 0.803−0.969, P < 0.001). Thus, young men have similar exercise tolerance in acute exposure to high altitude and to SHHC. Moreover, AMS can be predicted with superior accuracy using characteristics easily obtainable with TET.


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 333-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Brooks ◽  
G. E. Butterfield ◽  
R. R. Wolfe ◽  
B. M. Groves ◽  
R. S. Mazzeo ◽  
...  

We hypothesized that the increased exercise arterial lactate concentration on arrival at high altitude and the subsequent decrease with acclimatization were caused by changes in blood lactate flux. Seven healthy men [age 23 +/- 2 (SE) yr, wt 72.2 +/- 1.6 kg] on a controlled diet were studied in the postabsorptive condition at sea level, on acute exposure to 4,300 m, and after 3 wk of acclimatization to 4,300 m. Subjects received a primed-continuous infusion of [6,6–2D]glucose (Brooks et al. J. Appl. Physiol. 70:919–927, 1991) and [3–13C]lactate and rested for a minimum of 90 min followed immediately by 45 min of exercise at 101 +/- 3 W, which elicited 51.1 +/- 1% of the sea level peak O2 consumption (VO2peak; 65 +/- 2% of both acute altitude and acclimatization). During rest at sea level, lactate appearance rate (Ra) was 0.52 +/- 0.03 mg.kg-1.min-1; this increased sixfold during exercise to 3.24 +/- 0.19 mg.kg-1.min-1. On acute exposure, resting lactate Ra rose from sea level values to 2.2 +/- 0.2 mg.kg-1.min-1. During exercise on acute exposure, lactate Ra rose to 18.6 +/- 2.9 mg.kg-1.min-1. Resting lactate Ra after acclimatization (1.77 +/- 0.25 mg.kg-1.min-1) was intermediate between sea level and acute exposure values. During exercise after acclimatization, lactate Ra (9.2 +/- 0.7 mg.kg-1.min-1) rose from resting values but was intermediate between sea level and acute exposure values. The increased exercise arterial lactate concentration response on arrival at high altitude and subsequent decrease with acclimatization are due to changes in blood lactate appearance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 2435-2445 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Brooks ◽  
E. E. Wolfel ◽  
B. M. Groves ◽  
P. R. Bender ◽  
G. E. Butterfield ◽  
...  

We hypothesized that the increased blood glucose disappearance (Rd) observed during exercise and after acclimatization to high altitude (4,300 m) could be attributed to net glucose uptake (G) by the legs and that the increased arterial lactate concentration and rate of appearance (Ra) on arrival at altitude and subsequent decrease with acclimatization were caused by changes in net muscle lactate release (L). To evaluate these hypotheses, seven healthy males [23 +/- 2 (SE) yr, 72.2 +/- 1.6 kg], on a controlled diet were studied in the postabsorptive condition at sea level, on acute exposure to 4,300 m, and after 3 wk of acclimatization to 4,300 m. Subjects received a primed-continuous infusion of [6,6–D2]glucose (Brooks et al., J. Appl. Physiol. 70: 919–927, 1991) and [3–13C]lactate (Brooks et al., J. Appl. Physiol. 71:333–341, 1991) and rested for a minimum of 90 min, followed immediately by 45 min of exercise at 101 +/- 3 W, which elicited 51.1 +/- 1% of the sea level peak O2 uptake (65 +/- 2% of both acute altitude and acclimatization peak O2 uptake). Glucose and lactate arteriovenous differences across the legs and arms and leg blood flow were measured. Leg G increased during exercise compared with rest, at altitude compared with sea level, and after acclimatization. Leg G accounted for 27–36% of Rd at rest and essentially all glucose Rd during exercise. A shunting of the blood glucose flux to active muscle during exercise at altitude is indicated. With acute altitude exposure, at 5 min of exercise L was elevated compared with sea level or after acclimatization, but from 15 to 45 min of exercise the pattern and magnitude of L from the legs varied and followed neither the pattern nor the magnitude of responses in arterial lactate concentration or Ra. Leg L accounted for 6–65% of lactate Ra at rest and 17–63% during exercise, but the percent Ra from L was not affected by altitude. Tracer-measured lactate extraction by legs accounted for 10–25% of lactate Rd at rest and 31–83% during exercise. Arms released lactate under all conditions except during exercise with acute exposure to high altitude, when the arms consumed lactate. Both active and inactive muscle beds demonstrated simultaneous lactate extraction and release. We conclude that active skeletal muscle is the predominant site of glucose disposal during exercise and at high altitude but not the sole source of blood lactate during exercise at sea level or high altitude.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Wang ◽  
Han Zhang ◽  
Tong Xu ◽  
Youchun Hu ◽  
Yugang Jiang

Abstract Gut microbiota bears adaptive potential to different environments, but little is known regarding its responses to acute high-altitude exposure. This study aimed to evaluate the microbial changes after acute exposure to simulated high-altitude hypoxia. C57BL/6J mice were divided into hypoxia and normoxia groups. The hypoxia group was exposed to a simulated altitude of 5500 m for 24 hours above sea level. The normoxia group was maintained in low-altitude of 10 m above sea level. Colonic microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA V4 gene sequencing. Compared with the normoxia group, shannon, simpson and Akkermansia were significantly increased, while Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio and Bifidobacterium were significantly decreased in the hypoxia group. The hypoxia group exhibited lower mobile element containing and higher potentially pathogenic and stress tolerant phenotypes than those in the normoxia group. Functional analysis indicated that environmental information processing was significantly lower, metabolism, cellular processes and organismal systems were significantly higher in the hypoxia group than those in the normoxia group. In conclusion, acute exposure to simulated high-altitude hypoxia alters gut microbiota diversity and composition, which may provide a potential target to alleviate acute high-altitude diseases.


1967 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis A. Sobrevilla ◽  
I. Romero ◽  
F. Moncloa ◽  
J. Donayre ◽  
R. Guerra-García

ABSTRACT Total urinary gonadotrophins have been measured in 8 natives living at 14 000 feet (HA), in 10 natives living at sea level (SL), and 10 SL natives during exposure to 14 000 feet for 14 days. For the determinations the kaolin-acetone extraction technique and the mouse uterus test with NIH-HPG-UPM-1 as reference standard were used. HA natives excrete 1.25 ± 0.20 (S. E. M.) mgEq. NIH-HPG-UPM-1 and SL men 1.14 ± 0.31 (S. E. M.). No significant changes occurred during the acute exposure of SL natives to HA. The authors conclude that the unimpaired fertility of the HA native does not depend on adaptive alterations in gonadotrophin excretion, and that acute exposure of males to 14 000 feet for 14 days does not cause any alterations in the urinary excretion of gonadotrophins, detectable by the method used.


2020 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Owen. R. Vaughan ◽  
Fredrick Thompson ◽  
Ramón. A. Lorca ◽  
Colleen G. Julian ◽  
Theresa L. Powell ◽  
...  

Women residing at high altitudes deliver infants of lower birth weight than at sea level. Birth weight correlates with placental system A-mediated amino acid transport capacity, and severe environmental hypoxia reduces system A activity in isolated trophoblast and the mouse placenta. However, the effect of high altitude on human placental amino acid transport remains unknown. We hypothesized that microvillous membrane (MVM) system A and system L amino acid transporter activity is lower in placentas of women living at high altitude compared with low-altitude controls. Placentas were collected at term from healthy pregnant women residing at high altitude (HA; >2,500 m; n = 14) or low altitude (LA; <1,700 m; n = 14) following planned, unlabored cesarean section. Birth weight, but not placenta weight, was 13% lower in HA pregnancies (2.88 ± 0.11 kg) compared with LA (3.30 ± 0.07 kg, P < 0.01). MVM erythropoietin receptor abundance, determined by immunoblot, was greater in HA than in LA placentas, consistent with lower placental oxygen levels at HA. However, there was no effect of altitude on MVM system A or L activity, determined by Na+-dependent [14C]methylaminoisobutyric acid uptake and [3H]leucine uptake, respectively. MVM abundance of glucose transporters (GLUTs) 1 and 4 and basal membrane GLUT4 were also similar in LA and HA placentas. Low birth weights in the neonates of women residing at high altitude are not a consequence of reduced placental amino acid transport capacity. These observations are in general agreement with studies of IUGR babies at low altitude, in which MVM system A activity is downregulated only in growth-restricted babies with significant compromise. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Babies born at high altitude are smaller than at sea level. Birth weight is dependent on growth in utero and, in turn, placental nutrient transport. We determined amino acid transport capacity in placentas collected from women resident at low and high altitude. Altitude did not affect system A amino acid transport across the syncytiotrophoblast microvillous membrane, suggesting that impaired placental amino acid transport does not contribute to reduced birth weight in this high-altitude population.


1981 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Jain ◽  
Jaya Bardhan ◽  
Y. V. Swamy ◽  
A. Grover ◽  
H. S. Nayar

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 48-53
Author(s):  
Ramesh Prasad Sah ◽  
Hari Kumar Prasai ◽  
Jiban Shrestha ◽  
Md Hasanuzzaman Talukder ◽  
AKM Anisur Rahman ◽  
...  

Buffalo is the most important livestock commodities for milk, meat production and several other multipurpose uses distributed densely from southern tarai to northern mid-hills in Nepal. Among several internal parasitic diseases fascioliasis is highly economic one caused by Fasciola in buffaloes. However, there are only few studies carried on prevalence of fascioliasis emphasizing buffaloes in relation to seasonal (summer and rainy, and winter) and altitudinal variations. Therefore, we examined prevalence of fascioliasis seasonally and vertically. For the purpose, we selected two districts of eastern Nepal and sampled from low altitude area known as Madhesha ranging from 175-200, Dhankuta from 800-1200 m, and Murtidhunga from 1800-2200 m elevation from the sea level, representing tarai, mid hills and high hills, respectively. Altogether from February 2013 to January 2014 at every two months interval we collected 798 fecal samples from buffaloes; 282 from Murtidhunga, 239 from Dhankuta and 277 from Madhesha. The samples were examined microscopically for the presence of Fasciola eggs using sedimentation technique. Results showed that overall prevalence of fascioliasis in buffaloes was 39.9% (319/798), ranging highest 42.6%in Madhesha followed by 39.7% in Murtidhunga and 37.2% in Dhankuta, respectively. The prevalence of fascioliasis was found to be significantly (p <0.05) high in winter (44.9%) comparing to rainy season (34.4%). The prevalence of fascioliasis in buffaloes was relatively higher in low altitude than high altitude, although it was not statistically significant (p <0.05). In our findings the female buffaloes showed higher prevalence for fascioliasis than in male. Since the fascioliasis in buffaloes is highly endemic, thus strategic deworming in high risk period is recommended along with measure to prevent pasture contamination with buffalo feces.


2012 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire de Bisschop ◽  
Jean-Benoit Martinot ◽  
Gil Leurquin-Sterk ◽  
Vitalie Faoro ◽  
Hervé Guénard ◽  
...  

Lung diffusing capacity has been reported variably in high-altitude newcomers and may be in relation to different pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Twenty-two healthy volunteers were investigated at sea level and at 5,050 m before and after random double-blind intake of the endothelin A receptor blocker sitaxsentan (100 mg/day) vs. a placebo during 1 wk. PVR was estimated by Doppler echocardiography, and exercise capacity by maximal oxygen uptake (V̇o2 max). The diffusing capacities for nitric oxide (DLNO) and carbon monoxide (DLCO) were measured using a single-breath method before and 30 min after maximal exercise. The membrane component of DLCO (Dm) and capillary volume (Vc) was calculated with corrections for hemoglobin, alveolar volume, and barometric pressure. Altitude exposure was associated with unchanged DLCO, DLNO, and Dm but a slight decrease in Vc. Exercise at altitude decreased DLNO and Dm. Sitaxsentan intake improved V̇o2 max together with an increase in resting and postexercise DLNO and Dm. Sitaxsentan-induced decrease in PVR was inversely correlated to DLNO. Both DLCO and DLNO were correlated to V̇o2 max at sea level ( r = 0.41–0.42, P < 0.1) and more so at altitude ( r = 0.56–0.59, P < 0.05). Pharmacological pulmonary vasodilation improves the membrane component of lung diffusion in high-altitude newcomers, which may contribute to exercise capacity.


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