Hematologic Responses to Severe Decompression Stress
Abstract
Red and white cell parameters were measured in the blood of mature Sprague-Dawley rats at various time points up to three days following compression and severe decompression. Acute decompression stress (one hour post- surfacing) produced an increase in red cell count, hematocrit and hemoglobin without concomitant alterations in red cell indices. This was taken as evidence of hemoconcentration. The normalization of red cell parameters by one day post- decompression was indicative of a spontaneous resolution of the acute hypovolemia. During the late phase of the observation period (day two), red cell count further increased with accompanying hematocrit elevation but without alteration in hemoglobin. During this period (days two and three) mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin declined. Parallel decreases in these indices are indicative of a microcytic hypochromic morphology and may be related to the time-related hypertonic plasma. At no time was evidence of reticulocytosis or decreases in red cell count, hemoglobin, or hematocrit noted. The increase in hematocrit and red cell count at the end of the experiment suggest another episode of hemoconcentration.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 03, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0769518
Entities
People
- Donald V. Tappan
- Keith R. Ritzler
- Michael J. Jacey
Organizations
- Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory