CARDIAC SIZE AND PULMONARY HYPERTENSION IN DOGS EXPOSED TO HIGH ALTITUDE.
Abstract
Studies were conducted to determine whether the canine heart develops typical hypertrophy when subjected to high altitude exposure. Groups of six or eight purebred adult beagles were examined at sea level, after 16 weeks at 5,380 ft and after 6 and 16 weeks at 14, 110 ft. Weight of ventricles and septum, expressed as absolute weight or as a ratio to body weight, was unchanged after 16 weeks at 5,380 ft. In those dogs held for 16 weeks at 14,110 ft the septal weights were less than those of the sea level controls. Ventricular weight and ratios of weights of the left and right ventricular components to the total ventricular weight were unaltered. Lack of any hypertrophy was further confirmed by ECG and angiography. Despite doubling of mean pulmonary artery pressure from sea level to 14,110 ft, pulmonary arterioles did not show medial hypertrophy. It is concluded that the dog does not develop cardiac hypertrophy under these conditions of altitude exposure. Dogs were found to have a proportionately larger right ventricle than do most mammalian species. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0697714
Entities
People
- G. W. Bishop
- J. A. Vogel
- R. L. Genovese
- T. J. Bucci
- T. L. Powell