Abstract
The effects on rats of 6 weeks of altitude acclimatization (25,000 ft 5 hrs/day) on exercise performance (slow walking in a cylindrical wire cage for 9 hours) at sea level were determined. The altitude acclimatized rats developed incipient fatigue (immobility of either fore or hind limbs) three hours earlier than unacclimatized controls. Fatigue (total immobility of both fore and hind limbs)was exhibited by all altitude rats and in one-third of the controls after exercising 7 1/2 hours. The reduced exercise performance of altitude rats was correlated with greater elevations in the serum of corticosterone, urea nitrogen, glutamic oxalacetic and glutamic pyruvic transaminases, aldolase, and lactic and malic dehydrogenases. It was also correlated with a marked polycythemia and focal myocardial inflammation and scarring. Hypoglycemia after exercise was also more severe in the altitude acclimatized rats. Thus, as indicated by the ensuiing physiological, biochemical and histopathological changes, 6 weeks of altitude acclimatization proved detrimental to rats exercising at sea level.
Zusammenfassung
Es wurde die Auswirkung einer 6-wöchigen Höhenakklimatisation von Ratten (täglich 5 Stunden in 6.600 m Höhe in der Unterdruckkammer) auf die Laufleistung in Seehöhe (langsames Laufen in einer Lauftrommel mit Pausen während 9 Stunden) untersucht. Die höhenakklimatisierten Tiere zeigten Zeichen von Müdigkeit (Schleppen der Vorder- oder Hinterbeine) 3 Stunden früher als die nicht exponierten Kontrolltiere. Müdigkeit (totale Immobilität der Vorder-und Hinterbeine) trat bei allen Höhen-Ratten und bei ein Drittel der Kontroll-Ratten nach 7 1/2 Stunden Laufen auf. Die verminderte Laufleistung der Höhen-Ratten war verbunden mit grösserer Erhöhung von Corticosteron, Harnstoff-N, GOT und GPT, Aldolase und Milch- und Apfelsäure-Dehydrogenase im Serum. Ebenfalls bestand eine ausgeprägte Polyzythämie und herdförmide Myokardentzündung und Narbenbildung. Die Hypoglykämie nach Arbeit war bei den Höhen-Ratten schwerer. Danach hat diese Form der 6-wöchigen Höhenexponierung einen nachteiligen Einfluss auf Ratten im Arbeitstest.
Resume
On a examiné l'effet de l'acclimatation à l'altitude de rats (exposition journalière durant 5 heures à 6.600 m d'altitude simulée dans un caisson décompressé) sur leur aptitude à marcher au niveau de la mer (déplacement ralenti à l'intérieur d'un cylindre durant 9 heures avec des interruptions). Les bêtes ayant subi un traitement au caisson ont montré des signes de fatigue (trainage des pattes antérieures ou postérieures) 3 heures avant les bêtes de contrôle. La fatigue (immobilité totale des pattes antérieures et postérieures) se remarque après 7 1/2 heures de marche chez tous les rats acclimatés à l'altitude et chez un tiers des bêtes de contrôle. La diminution de la résistance à la marche était accompagnée chez les rats d'altitude d'une augmentation notable des principes suivants dans le sérum sanguin: corticosterone, urée azotée, GOT et GPT, aldolase et déshydrogénase des acides lactique et malique. On a constaté également une polycythémie ainsi qu'une inflammation du myocarde accompagnée de cicatrisation. Après le travail, l'hypoglycémie était également plus prononcée chez les rats acclimatés à l'altitude que chez les autres. Il s'ensuit que cette forme d'exposition à l'altitude en 6 semaine a des suites fâcheuses sur les possibilités d'activité des rats.
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Altland, P.D., Highman, B. & Dieter, M.P. Reduced exercise performance of rats at sea level after altitude acclimatization: Changes in serum enzymes, glucose, corticosterone and tissue structure. Int J Biometeorol 13, 173–181 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01552738
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01552738