Abstract
Purpose
Orthostasis at sea level decreases brain tissue oxygenation and increases risk of syncope. High altitude reduces brain and peripheral muscle tissue oxygenation. This study determined the effect of short-term altitude acclimatization on cerebral and peripheral leg tissue oxygenation index (TOI) post-orthostasis.
Method
Seven lowlanders completed a supine-to-stand maneuver at sea level (450 m) and for 3 consecutive days at high altitude (3776 m). Cardiorespiratory measurements and near-infrared spectroscopy-derived oxygenation of the frontal lobe (cerebral TOI) and vastus lateralis (leg TOI) were measured at supine and 5-min post-orthostasis.
Results
After orthostasis at sea level, cerebral TOI decreased [mean Δ% (95% confidential interval): − 4.5%, (− 7.5, − 1.5), P < 0.001], whilst leg TOI was unchanged [− 4.6%, (− 10.9, 1.7), P = 0.42]. High altitude had no effect on cerebral TOI following orthostasis [days 1–3: − 2.3%, (− 5.3, 0.7); − 2.4%, (− 5.4, 0.6); − 2.1%, (− 5.1, 0.9), respectively, all P > 0.05], whereas leg TOI decreased [days 1–3: − 12.0%, (− 18.3, − 5.7); − 12.1%, (− 18.4, − 5.8); − 10.2%, (− 16.5, − 3.9), respectively, all P < 0.001]. This response did not differ with days spent at high altitude, despite evidence of cardiorespiratory acclimatization [increased peripheral oxygen saturation (supine: P = 0.01; stand: P = 0.02) and decreased end-tidal carbon dioxide (supine: P = 0.003; stand: P = 0.01)].
Conclusion
Cerebral oxygenation is preferentially maintained over leg oxygenation post-orthostasis at high altitude, suggesting different vascular regulation between cerebral and peripheral circulations. Short-term acclimatization to high altitude did not alter cerebral and leg oxygenation responses to orthostasis.
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Availability of data and materials
All relevant data are within the paper. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Abbreviations
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- BP:
-
Blood pressure
- DBP:
-
Diastolic blood pressure
- HR:
-
Heart rate
- MAP:
-
Mean arterial pressure
- NIRS:
-
Near-infrared spectroscopy
- PETCO2 :
-
Partial pressure of end tidal carbon dioxide
- SBP:
-
Systolic blood pressure
- SD:
-
Standard deviation
- SpO2 :
-
Peripheral arterial oxygen saturation
- TOI:
-
Tissue oxygenation index
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Acknowledgements
We appreciate the time and effort spent by our volunteer participants. We would like to thank Dr. Naoto Fujita, Hamamatus Photonics K. K., for providing NIRS device, and Dr. Nobuhiko Akazawa and Miss. Misato Watanebe for their technical assistant. The authors would like to thank Engao (www.Enago.jp) for the English language service.
Funding
This work was supported in part by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS, KAKENHI, Number; JP26440268 to M.H.).
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MH, KA, and KO conceived and designed the study MH, KA, and KO performed the experiments MH, KO, ATF, GMKR, and SJO analyzed data and interpreted results. MH, GMKR, and ATF prepared tables and figures. MH drafted the first manuscript. MH, KA, KO, ATF, GMKR, and SJO critically revised the manuscript, and all authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
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All study procedures were approved by the ethical committee of the Mount Fuji Research Institute in Japan (ECMFRI-01-2014) and performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki 2013, with written informed consent obtained from all study participants.
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Communicated by Guido ferrati.
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Horiuchi, M., Okazaki, K., Asano, K. et al. The influence of short-term high-altitude acclimatization on cerebral and leg tissue oxygenation post-orthostasis. Eur J Appl Physiol 121, 3095–3102 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04765-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04765-7