Responses in the Cardiovascular System of Rats Intermittently Exposed to an Altitude of 18,000 Feet.

Abstract

The study involved a comparison of ground-level rats to rats that were exposed to an altitude of 18,000 feet, six hours a day, for 5, 10, 15, and 20 days, respectively, in order to determine any differences in the responses of the cardiovascular system. Upon comparison of the two groups, the 10, 15, and 20-day altitude rats showed a significant increase in diastolic pressure and systolic pressure. The 10-day altitude group also had an increase in heart rate. Exposure of rats to an altitude of 18,000 feet, six hours a day for 5 days, showed no changes in the cardiovascular measurements when compared to ground-level rats. Intravenous injection of epinephrine increased blood pressure in all groups of rats; this was more pronounced in the 10, 15, and 20-day ground-level group. The 5-day ground level and altitude groups showed no difference in blood pressure rise after the injection of epinephrine. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1970
Accession Number
AD0717851

Entities

People

  • Lloyd L. Foster

Organizations

  • United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Anatomy
  • Biological Sciences
  • Blood
  • Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Epinephrine
  • Ground Level
  • Heart Rate
  • Measurement

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology