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Calbet 2003 Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol

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Calbet JA, Boushel RC, Radegran G, Sondergaard H, Wagner PD, Saltin B (2003) Why is VO2 max after altitude acclimatization still reduced despite normalization of arterial O2 content? Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 284:R304-316.

Β» PMID: 12388462 Open Access

Calbet Jose AL, Boushel RC, Radegran G, Sondergaard H, Wagner PD, Saltin B (2003) Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol

Abstract: Acute hypoxia (AH) reduces maximal O2 consumption (VO2max), but after acclimatization, and despite increases in both hemoglobin concentration and arterial O2 saturation that can normalize arterial O2 concentration ([O2]), VO2max remains low. To determine why, seven lowlanders were studied at VO2max (cycle ergometry) at sea level (SL), after 9-10 wk at 5260 m [chronic hypoxia (CH)], and 6 mo later at SL in AH (FiO2 = 0.105) equivalent to 5260 m. Pulmonary and leg indexes of O2 transport were measured in each condition. Both cardiac output and leg blood flow were reduced by approximately 15 % in both AH and CH (P < 0.05). At maximal exercise, arterial [O2] in AH was 31 % lower than at SL (P < 0.05), whereas in CH it was the same as at SL due to both polycythemia and hyperventilation. O2 extraction by the legs, however, remained at SL values in both AH and CH. Although at both SL and in AH, 76 % of the cardiac output perfused the legs, in CH the legs received only 67 %. Pulmonary VO2max (4.1 +/- 0.3 L/min at SL) fell to 2.2 +/- 0.1 L/min in AH (P < 0.05) and was only 2.4 +/- 0.2 L/min in CH (P < 0.05). These data suggest that the failure to recover VO2max after acclimatization despite normalization of arterial [O2] is explained by two circulatory effects of altitude: 1) failure of cardiac output to normalize and 2) preferential redistribution of cardiac output to nonexercising tissues. Oxygen transport from blood to muscle mitochondria, on the other hand, appears unaffected by CH.


β€’ O2k-Network Lab: CA Vancouver Boushel RC, ES CN Las Palmas Calbet JAL


Labels: MiParea: Respiration, Exercise physiology;nutrition;life style 

Stress:Ischemia-reperfusion  Organism: Human  Tissue;cell: Skeletal muscle, Lung;gill  Preparation: Intact organism