Evaluation of the Physiological Challenges in Extreme Environments: Implications for EnhancedTraining, Operational Performance and Sex-Specific Responses
Abstract
: he overarching aim of this project series was to examine the impacts of differential environmental conditions (hypobaric hypoxia -4400 m, normobaric hypoxia - 4400 m, normobaric normoxia - sea level to 1000 m hot - 33C, cold - 7C, and thermoneutral - 20C,) on markersof exercise response/acclimation. The scope of the project was completed under the prerequisite of known performance decrements in extreme environments. Experiments were designed with consideration to military operations under the above-mentioned environments. Our research aim was completed using a grand total of 91 research subjects (53 males, 38 females) across the study series. In task 1, we set out to determine the impact of hypobaric hypoxia and normobaric hypoxia on markers of mitochondrial biogenesis, myogenesis, and oxidative stress following exercise. Our major findings indicate that markers of muscle growth and breakdown were minimally altered by altitude stress. Similary, oxygen sensing/delivery genes and mitochondrial gene responses were not altered by altitude stress. Moreover, there were no differences across sex. While prior research has clearly demonstrated impairments to performance and altitude-oriented losses in skeletal muscle mass and function, the present results from year 1 suggest that an impaired skeletal gene response to altitude can be offset with appropriate exercise intervention. Exercise intervention and appropriate physical training programs may act to minimize expected losses in skeletal muscle health and function during high altitude staging and operations. In task 2/3, we set out to determine the effects of environmental temperature (hot, cold, thermoneutral) on markers of mitochondrial biogenesis, oxidative stress and sex-difference (male v female) performance and thermoregulation during 3-week exercise training periods (15 training sessions).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1130722
Entities
People
- Brent C. Ruby
Organizations
- University of Montana