A STUDY OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES WHICH OCCUR DURING ACCLIMATIZATION TO HIGH ALTITUDE. AN ACTIVE FORM OF HEMOGLOBIN FORMED DURING ACCLIMATIZATION
Abstract
A form of hemoglobin which apparently is not active in the transport of oxygen has been found in the blood of four men acclimatizing to high altitude. This pigment resembles other inactive pigments previously described by Barkan, Ammundsen, Roughton and others. In amount the pigment varied from 0. 5 to 3.0 vols. percent during rest and was always less during exercise, as compared to the average value of 0.45 vols. percent found in seventeen determinations on eight individuals at sea level and during short periods of anoxia. No consistent relationship was found between the amount of pigment and blood lactic acid, sugar, pHs, or the degree of anoxia present. In the acclimatizing subjects there was no consistent relationship of inactive pigment to ascorbic acid intake, but three normal subjects demonstrated an increase in inactive pigment during and for a short time after a few days of elimination of ascorbic acid from their diets. The inactive pigment is very labile, being readily activated by short periods of moderate exercise, and does not appear to be methemoglobin as determined by a simplified photoelectric colorimeter.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1946
- Accession Number
- AD0622153
Entities
People
- Ashton Graybiel
- C. S. Houston
- R. L. Riley
- W. H. Jarvis Jr.