Summary
The influence of 11 days at moderate altitude (2,000 m) combined with exercise on plasma concentration of testosterone, FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone), cortisol, aldosterone, and renin activity was studied in ten healthy subjects. Within 48 h of arrival at moderate altitude a significant increase in testosterone was found whereas FSH had decreased significantly and LH showed a tendency to decrease. Cortisol increased significantly at the beginning and reached a maximum at the end of altitude exposure. The plasma aldosterone level rose continuously and on the last day of altitude was significantly elevated. Plasma renin activity showed a tendency to decrease. On return to low land all measured parameters returned to base line values within 2 days.
The findings of increases in plasma levels of aldosterone and testosterone (and serum T3 and T4, as reported by others) are in contrast to the previously found decrease of urinary excretion of all these hormones. This appears to be a distinct dissociation of serum levels of adrenal (and thyroid) hormones from their urinary excretion.
The observed increase in plasma aldosterone is probably mediated through ACTH and the rise in plasma potassium, since plasma renin activity showed an opposite trend. The rise in plasma testosterone is probably of adrenal origin since plasma gonadotropins declined simultaneously.
The increase of plasma levels of glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and androgens after an ascent from 600 m to 2,000 m above sea level is compatible with an ACTH-mediated stimulation of the entire adrenal cortex and/or a diminished elimination of adrenal steroids: The concomitant fall of FSH, LH, and plasma renin would then be a consequence of a direct negative feedback inhibition of these hormones.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ayres PJ, Hunter RC, Williams ES, Rundo J (1961) Aldosterone excretion and potassium retention in subjects living at high altitude. Nature 191: 78–80
Bangham CRM, Hackett PH (1978) Effect of high altitude on endocrine functions in the sherpas of Nepal. J Endocrinol 79: 147–148
Bartke A, Steele RE, Musto N, Caldwell EV (1973) Fluctuations in plasma testosterone levels in adult male rats and mice. Endocrinology 92: 1223–1228
Boyd GW, Adamson AR, Fitz AE, Peart WS (1966) Radioimmunoassay determination of plasma-renin activity. Lancet 1: 213
Costill DL, Branam G, Fink W, Nelson R (1976) Exercise induced sodium conservation: changes in plasma renin and aldosterone. Med Sci Sports 8: 209–213
Crosignani PG, Nakamura R, Hovland T, Mishell FR (1970) A method of solide phase radioimmunoassay utilizing polypropylene discs. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 30: 153–160
Funder JW (1969) Effect of plasma K+ on the secretion of aldosterone. Endocrinology 85: 381–384
Gould AB, Goodman SA (1970) The effect of hypoxia on the renin-angiotensinogen system. Lab Invest 22: 443–447
Greenleaf JE, Bernauer EM, Adams WC, Juhos L (1978) Fluid-electrolyte shifts and VO2 max in man at simulated altitude (2,287 m). J Appl Physiol 44: 652–658
Guerra-Garcia R (1971) Testosterone metabolism in men exposed to high altitude. Acta Endocrinol Panam 2: 55
Halhuber MJ, Gabl F (1964) 17-OHCS excretion and blood eosinophils at an altitude of 2,000 m. In: Weihe WH (ed) Physiological effects of high altitude. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 131–138
Ito T, Woo J, Haning R, Horton R (1972) A radioimmunoassay for aldosterone in human peripheral plasma including a comparison of alternate techniques. J Clin Endocrinol 34: 106
Jung RC, Dill DB, Horton R, Horvath SM (1971) Effects of age on plasma aldosterone levels and hemoconcentration at altitude. J Appl Physiol 31: 593–597
Klain GJ (1972) Acute high altitude stress and enzyme activities in the rat adrenal medulla. Endocrinology 91: 1477–1449
Koller F, Schwarz E, Marti M (1954) über die Reaktion der NNR beim Aufstieg im Hochgebirge. Acta Endocrinol 16: 118–140
Kosunen KJ, Pakarinen AJ (1976) Plasma renin, angiotensin II, and plasma and urinary aldosterone in running exercise. J Appl Physiol 41: 26–29
McKinnon PCB, Monk-Jones ME, Fotherby K (1963) A study of various indices of adrenocortical activity during 23 days at high altitude. J Endicrinol 26: 555–566
Maher JT, Jones LG, Hartley LH, Williams GH, Rose LI (1975) Aldosterone dynamics during graded exercises at sea level and high altitude. J Appl Physiol 39: 18–22
Moncloa F, Donayre J, Sobrevilla LA, Guerra-Garcia R (1965) Endocrine studies at high altitude. II. Adrenal cortical function in sea-level natives exposed to high altitudes (4,300 m) for two weeks. J Clin Endicrinol Metab 25: 1640–1642
Moncloa F, Velasco I, Beteta L (1968) Plasma cortisol concentration and disappearance rate of 4-14C-cortisol in newcomers to high altitude. J Clin Endiocrinol Metab 28: 379
Murphy BEP (1967) Some studies of the protein binding of steroids and their routine micro- and ultra-micromeasurements of various steroids of body fluids by competitive protein binding radio-assay. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 27: 973
Rastogi GK, Malhotra MS, Srivastava MC, Sawhney RC, Dua GL, Sridharan K, Hoon RS, Singh I (1977) Study of the pituitarythyroid functions at high altitude in man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 44: 447–452
Sachs L (1968) Statistische Auswertungsmethoden. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 293
Sailer E, Verzár F (1950) Die Ausscheidung von Corticosteroiden in Ruhe, bei Muskelarbeit und in der Höhe. Helv Phys Acta 8: C72-C74
Singh I, Malhotra MS, Khanna PK, Nanda RB, Purshottam T, Upadhyay TN, Radhakrishnan U, Brahmachari DH (1974) Changes in plasma cortisol, blood antidiuretic hormone, and urinary catecholamines in high altitude pulmonary oedema. Int J Biometeorol 18: 211–221
Skrabal F (1975) Nomogramm zur SchÄtzung der PlasmareninaktivitÄt anhand des Natrium-Kreatinin-Quotienten im Spontanharn. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 100: 2649–2651
Skrabal F (1979) Aldosterone and in vivo mineralocorticoid activity in normotensive and hypertensive man. J R Soc Med 72: 252–259
Slater JDH, Tuffley RE, Edwards RHT, Ekins RP, Beresford CH, Sönksen PH, Williams ES, McLaughlin M (1969) Control of aldosterone secretion during acclimatization to hypoxia in man. Clin Sci 37: 327–341
Sobrevilla LA, Midgley AR (1971) The plasma gonadotropin response to high altitude exposure. Acta Endocrinol Panam 2: 47
Tibes U, Hemmer B, Böning D (1977) Heart rate and ventilation of relation to venous K+, osmolality, pH, Pco2 Po2 exercise in athletes and non-athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol 36: 127
Timiras PS, Pace NG, Hwang CA (1957) Plasma and urine 17-hydroxycorticosteroid and urine 17-ketosteroid levels in man during acclimatization to high altitude. Federation Proceedings, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 16: 340
Vander AJ, Moore LG, Brewer G, Menon KMJ, England BG (1978) Effects of high altitude on plasma concentrations of testosterone and pituitary gonadotropins in man. Aviat Space Environ Med 49: 356–357
Williams ES (1966) Electrolyte regulation during the adaptation of humans to life at high altitudes. Proc R Soc London Ser B 165: 266–280
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported partly by a “Forschungsförderungsbeitrag des Landes Vorarlberg∝, by the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Austria, and by the JubilÄumsfonds der Nationalbank
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Humpeler, E., Skrabal, F. & Bartsch, G. Influence of exposure to moderate altitude on the plasma concentration of cortisol, aldosterone, renin, testosterone, and gonadotropins. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 45, 167–176 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421324
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421324