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Muscle lipofuscin content and satellite cell volume is increased after high altitude exposure in humans

Experientia volume 46, pages 672–676 (1990)Cite this article

Summary

Muscle ultrastructural changes during a typical expedition to the Himalayas were analyzed by taking muscle biopsies from seven climbers before and after their sojourn at high altitude (over 5000 m for 8 weeks). M. vastus lateralis samples were analyzed morphometrically from electron micrographs. A quantitative evaluation was made of lipofuscin, satellite cells and myonuclei. Significant increases of the volume densities of lipofuscin (+235%) and satellite cells (+215%) were observed.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 26, CH-3000, Bern 9

    M. Martinelli, R. Winterhalder & H. Hoppeler

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Geneva, CMU, 1 rue Michel Servet, CH-1211, Genève 4

    P. Cerretelli

  3. Ciba-Geigy AG, CH-4002, Basel, (Switzerland)

    H. Howald

Authors
  1. M. Martinelli
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  2. R. Winterhalder
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  3. P. Cerretelli
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  4. H. Howald
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  5. H. Hoppeler
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Martinelli, M., Winterhalder, R., Cerretelli, P. et al. Muscle lipofuscin content and satellite cell volume is increased after high altitude exposure in humans. Experientia 46, 672–676 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01939930

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01939930

Key words

  • Muscle
  • morphometry
  • human
  • hypoxia
  • lipofuscin
  • satellite cell
  • high altitude