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Effect of intermittent hypoxia on hematological parameters after recombinant human erythropoietin administration

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Abstract

Recent publications reflect the anti-doping authorities’ concern about the use of altitude simulator systems as violating the spirit of sport criterion (Levine 2006; Loland and Murray 2007; Spriggs 2005). The aim of our study was to determine whether intermittent hypoxic treatments could modify the hemoglobin, hematocrit, reticulocytes, and erythropoietic stimulation index (OFF-Hr Score) values after administration of rHuEPO-alpha. Although these hematological parameters are of secondary nature some international sport federations currently exclude athletes who show aberrant values of these parameters from competition. Ten young male Wistar rats were treated, three times a week for 2 weeks, with 500 IU of rHuEPO-alpha. After the treatment, the animals were randomly divided into two groups: normoxic and hypoxic. The normoxic group was maintained at 21% O2 24 h a day for 23 days. The hypoxic group was maintained 12 h at 21% O2 and 12 h at 12% O2 (~4,000 m) the same time period. After the rHuEPO-alpha treatment, the hypoxic group of animals had a faster recovery rate in the reticulocyte count, elevated concentrations of hemoglobin and hematocrit and a significant increase in the endogenous EPO levels when compared with the normoxic group of animals. These changes led to significant modifications in the OFF-Hr Score between the hypoxic and normoxic animals. Intermittent hypoxic treatments after rHuEPO administration can significantly modify the main hematological parameters tested by the anti-doping authorities. Our results in an animal model suggest checking the described phenomena in humans in order to reach major conclusions.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Mrs Marilyn Noyes for her kind help in reviewing the manuscript and to Mr Daniel Martinez Bello for his help in the Statistical Analysis. The authors’ work was supported by grants DPS2008-06968 and BFU2007-65 803/BFI to J. V.; 24/UPB20/07 and 35/UPB20/08 to M. C. G-C and by grant (ISCIII2006-RED13-027) from the “Red Temática de investigación cooperativa en envejecimiento y fragilidad (RETICEF). Instituto de Salud Carlos III”.

Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors had any conflicts of interest with the funding agencies or professional relationships with companies or manufacturers who may benefit from the results of the present study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Blasco Ibañez, 15, 46010, Valencia, Spain

    F. Sanchis-Gomar, V. E. Martinez-Bello, E. Domenech, A. L. Nascimento, F. V. Pallardo, Mari Carmen Gomez-Cabrera & J. Vina

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  1. F. Sanchis-Gomar
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  2. V. E. Martinez-Bello
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  3. E. Domenech
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  4. A. L. Nascimento
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  5. F. V. Pallardo
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  7. J. Vina
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Correspondence to J. Vina.

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Sanchis-Gomar, F., Martinez-Bello, V.E., Domenech, E. et al. Effect of intermittent hypoxia on hematological parameters after recombinant human erythropoietin administration. Eur J Appl Physiol 107, 429–436 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1141-3

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