Summary
Japanese quail,Coturnix coturnix japonica, which were acclimated to a simulated altitude of 6100 m for six weeks were compared with control quail maintained at sea level. Body weight initially decreased in both groups, and by the end of six weeks the altitude quail weighed an average of 8% less than the control quail (Fig. 1). Compared with the controls, the altitude birds exhibited mean increases in hematocrit ratio and blood hemoglobin concentration of 31 and 37% respectively (Fig. 2). Blood volume was 36% higher in the altitude acclimated quail, while plasma volume was unchanged (Fig. 3). Exposure to chronic hypoxia resulted in hypertrophy of the right ventricle, while left ventricular mass was unchanged (Fig. 4). Rates of O2 consumption (VO2) at 5°C were continuously recorded as ambient PO2 was slowly reduced from 155 to 30 torr. VO2 was significantly higher at any given PO2 in the altitude quail (Fig. 5). Exposure to reduced PO2 resulted in a significantly greater decrease in body temperature in the control quail than in the altitude acclimated birds (Fig. 6).
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Weathers, W.W., Snyder, G.K. Functional acclimation of Japanese quail to simulated high-altitude. J Comp Physiol B 93, 127–137 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696267
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696267