Observation of the effects of the rearing at simulated altitude in the albino rat
Quatrini, U.; Benigno, A.; Orlando, F.
Bollettino della Societa Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 57(3): 327-332
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-8771 PMID: 7236410 Document Number: 168486
Albino rats of the Wistar family were raised from the time of birth in a simulated altitude of .apprx. 6000 m (barometric pressure 370 mm Hg) for .apprx. 50 days. Some were killed after losing consciousness upon exposure to acute hypoxia. The others were killed without being subjected to the acute hypoxia. Control groups of the same stock were raised for a corresponding time period in a normal atmosphere at sea level and killed like the preceding groups. The animals raised in a simulated altitude displayed an increase in the 2,3-DPG [2,3-diphosphoglycerate] content, in red blood cell Hb concentration and in the number of erythrocytes per milliliter of blood. These are considered phenomena of adaptation only slightly influenced by acute hypoxia. The animals raised in a simulated altitude also displayed a displacement of the blood acid-base balance toward the acid side. This was even more accentuated in the group subjected to acute hypoxia. The weight curve showed that the animals raised in a simulated altitude presented a slower body growth compared to the control group. Significant variations in tolerance to acute hypoxia was not shown in these various groups.