Oxygen transport in tibetan women during pregnancy at 3,658 m

High-altitude reduces infant birth weight as a result of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and is associated with increased neonatal mortality. We hypothesized that babies born to Tibetan compared to Han (Chinese) high-altitude residents were protected from IUGR as the result of increased maternal O(2) transport due, in turn, to increased uterine artery (UA) blood flow. We studied 68 nonpregnant or pregnant Tibetan or Han residents of Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China (3,658 m). The pregnant women had higher hypoxic ventilatory responses (HVR A) and resting ventilations (V(E)) than their nonpregnant counterparts (Tib HVR = 134 +/- 16 (SEM) vs. 30 +/- 8, Han HVR = 134 +/- 16 vs. 66 +/- 18 A units; Tib V(E) = 11.8 +/- 0.3 vs. 10.1 +/- 0.5, Han V(E) = 10.7 +/- 0.5 vs. 9.4 +/- 0.5 l BTPS/min; all P < 0.05). Pregnancy did not change hemoglobin concentration in the Han but lowered values more than 2 g/dl in the Tibetans, serving to reduce arterial O(2) content below Han values (15.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 17.4 +/- 0.5 ml O(2)/100 ml whole blood, P < 0.05). Compared with the Han, the pregnant Tibetans had higher UA blood flow velocity (58.5 +/- 2.9 vs. 49.1 +/- 3.2, P < 0. 05) and distributed a higher portion of common iliac (CI) blood flow to the UA (4.8 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.3 +/- 0.3, P < 0.05). Birth weights averaged 635 g greater in the Tibetan than Han high-altitude residents (3,280 +/- 78 vs. 2,645 +/- 96 g, P < 0.01), or 694 g more when adjusted for maternal age, parity, height, and near-term body weight. Heavier birth weight babies were born to women with higher V(E) (r = 0.62, P < 0.01) and greater distribution of CI blood flow to the UA (r = 0.42, P < 0.05). We conclude that increased UA blood flow, and not higher arterial O(2) content, permits Tibetan women to increase uteroplacental O(2) delivery and protect their infants from altitude-associated IUGR.     

Hematological differences during growth among Tibetans and Han Chinese born and raised at high altitude in Qinghai,China

This study describes the hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) and hematocrit (HCT) of over 1,000 Tibetan and Han children, adolescents, and young adults who were born and raised at 3,200 m, 3,800 m, or 4,300 m in Qinghai Province, western China. At 3,200 m, no altitude effect is evident in the hematological characteristics of either group. At 3,800 m and 4,300 m, both groups show [Hb] and HCT values that are above low-altitude norms. At both altitudes, Tibetan and Han children show no differences in the pattern of hematological response up to age 13. Among adolescents and young adults, however, the [Hb] and HCT of Han males and females are elevated compared to Tibetans. This indicates that the adolescent period may involve a divergence in the responses to hypoxia made by some individuals in these two groups. Also, many other adolescents and young adults in both groups show similar hematological characteristics, indicating that many Tibetans and Han share similar hematological responses to hypoxia.     

Determinants of erythropoietin release in response to short-term hypobaric hypoxia.

We measured blood erythropoietin (EPO) concentration, arterial O(2) saturation (Sa(O(2))), and urine PO(2) in 48 subjects (32 men and 16 women) at sea level and after 6 and 24 h at simulated altitudes of 1,780, 2,085, 2,454, and 2,800 m. Renal blood flow (Doppler) and Hb were determined at sea level and after 6 h at each altitude (n = 24) to calculate renal O(2) delivery. EPO increased significantly after 6 h at all altitudes and continued to increase after 24 h at 2,454 and 2,800 m, although not at 1,780 or 2,085 m. The increase in EPO varied markedly among individuals, ranging from -41 to 400% after 24 h at 2,800 m. Similar to EPO, urine PO(2) decreased after 6 h at all altitudes and returned to baseline by 24 h at the two lowest altitudes but remained decreased at the two highest altitudes. Urine PO(2) was closely related to EPO via a curvilinear relationship (r(2) = 0.99), although also with prominent individual variability. Renal blood flow remained unchanged at all altitudes. Sa(O(2)) decreased slightly after 6 h at the lowest altitudes but decreased more prominently at the highest altitudes. There were only modest, albeit statistically significant, relationships between EPO and Sa(O(2)) (r = 0.41, P < 0.05) and no significant relationship with renal O(2) delivery. These data suggest that 1) the altitude-induced increase in EPO is "dose" dependent: altitudes > or =2,100-2,500 m appear to be a threshold for stimulating sustained EPO release in most subjects; 2) short-term acclimatization may restore renal tissue oxygenation and restrain the rise in EPO at the lowest altitudes; and 3) there is marked individual variability in the erythropoietic response to altitude that is only partially explained by "upstream" physiological factors such as those reflecting O(2) delivery to EPO-producing tissues.     

Internal carotid arterial flow velocity during exercise in Tibetan and Han residents of Lhasa (3,658 m).

Cerebral blood flow increases with acute exposure to high altitude, but the effect of hypoxia on the cerebral circulation at rest and during exercise appears influenced by the duration of high-altitude exposure. To determine whether internal carotid artery flow velocity increased with exercise in long-term residents of high altitude and whether resting values and the response to exercise differed in lifelong vs. acclimatized newcomer male residents of high altitude, we studied 15 native Tibetan and 11 Han ("Chinese") 6 +/- 2-yr residents of Lhasa (3,658 m), Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Noninvasive Doppler ultrasound was used to measure internal carotid artery diameter, mean flow velocity, and, in combination, hemoglobin and arterial O2 saturation to assess cerebral O2 delivery. Tibetan and Han groups were similar in body size and resting internal carotid artery diameter, blood pressure, hemoglobin concentration, internal carotid artery mean flow velocity, and calculated cerebral O2 delivery. Submaximal exercise increased internal carotid artery mean flow velocity and cerebral O2 delivery in the Tibetan and Han subjects. At peak exercise, the Tibetans sustained the increase in flow velocity and cerebral O2 delivery, whereas the Hans did not. Across all exercise levels up to and including peak effort, the Tibetans demonstrated a greater increase in internal carotid artery flow velocity and cerebral O2 delivery relative to resting values than did the Hans. The greater cerebral O2 delivery was accompanied by increased peak exercise capacity in the Tibetan compared with the Han group. Our findings suggest that the cerebral blood flow response to exercise is maintained in Tibetan lifelong residents of high altitude.     

Increased vital and total lung capacities in Tibetan compared to Han residents of Lhasa (3,658 m).

Larger chest dimensions and lung volumes have been reported for Andean high-altitude natives compared with sea-level residents and implicated in raising lung diffusing capacity. Studies conducted in Nepal suggested that lifelong Himalayan residents did not have enlarged chest dimensions. To determine if high-altitude Himalayans (Tibetans) had larger lung volumes than acclimatized newcomers (Han "Chinese"), we studied 38 Tibetan and 43 Han residents of Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China (elevation 3,658 m) matched for age, height, weight, and smoking history. The Tibetan compared with the Han subjects had a larger total lung capacity [6.80 +/- 0.19 (mean +/- SEM) vs 6.24 +/- 0.18 l BTPS, P less than 0.05], vital capacity (5.00 +/- 0.08 vs 4.51 +/- 0.10 1 BTPS, P less than 0.05), and tended to have a greater residual volume (1.86 +/- 0.12 vs 1.56 +/- 0.09 1 BTPS, P less than 0.06). Chest circumference was greater in the Tibetan than the Han subjects (85 +/- 1 vs 82 +/- 1 cm, P less than 0.05) and correlated with vital capacity in each group as well as in the two groups combined (r = 0.69, P less than 0.05). Han who had migrated to high altitude as children (less than or equal to 5 years old, n = 6) compared to Han adult migrants (greater than or equal to 18 years old, n = 26) were shorter but had similar lung volumes and capacities when normalized for body size. The Tibetans' vital capacity and total lung capacity in relation to body size were similar to values reported previously for lifelong residents of high altitude in South and North America. Thus, Tibetans, like North and South American high-altitude residents, have larger lung volumes. This may be important for raising lung diffusing capacity and preserving arterial oxygen saturation during exercise.     

Hemoglobin levels in a Himalayan high altitude population

This report presents data on hemoglobin concentrations in a sample of Himalayan high altitude natives measured at their habitual altitude of residence. In this sample of 270 healthy Tibetan adults resident at 3250–3560 m in Upper Chumik, Nepal, the mean hemoglobin concentration is 16.1 ± 1.2 gm/dl among adult males, 14.4 ± 1.4 gm/dl among premenopausal and 15.0 ± 1.1 gm/dl among postmenopausal adult females. 123 of 126 (98%) males, 96 of 100 (96%) premenopausal and 36 of 44 (82%) postmenopausal females have hemoglobin concentrations within two standard deviations of the sea level mean. These data demonstrate that a healthy population may reside at high altitude without the degree of elevation in hemoglobin widely known and cited for Andean highlanders. Comparing published data on mean hemoglobin concentrations of adult Himalayan and Andean samples residing between 3200 m and 4100 m reveals that Himalayan means are systematically lower. This in turn may account for the reported population differences in the prevalence of chronic mountain sickness (Monge's disease). It is hypothesized that Himalayan and Andean highlanders represent alternative patterns of high altitude hematological adaptation.     

珙桐(Davidia involucrata Baill.)苞片功能性状及性状间关系对海拔的响应

珙桐(Davidia involucrata Baill.)的苞片被认为是对传粉者和非生物因素等驱动力的适应,往往受到环境因子的影响。为揭示其功能性状及其性状间关系对海拔的响应,本研究采用独立样本t检验和标准化主轴分析方法对比了四川龙苍沟1400和1800 m不同海拔珙桐种群中花苞片的功能性状和性状间关系。结果显示:1)低海拔(1400 m)珙桐种群大、小苞片的长、宽和面积,以及单花苞片总面积均显著大于高海拔(1800 m)种群(P<0.05),且高、低海拔种群的大、小苞片面积及重量呈等比例生长;2)低海拔珙桐种群大、小苞片干重及单花苞片总干重均显著高于高海拔种群(P<0.05);3)高、低海拔种群的花序轴长与干重均无显著差异(P=0.446;P=0.791),高海拔花序轴干重与长间呈异速生长关系,而低海拔呈等速生长关系;4)珙桐大、小苞片的长宽间、面积间以及重量间关系在高、低海拔上均表现出等速生长,单花苞片的总面积和总干重分别与花序轴干重在高、低海拔上均表现出等速生长关系,而与花序轴长表现出异速生长关系。上述结果表明,珙桐苞片的功能性状及其性状间关系在不同海拔存在显著差异,这种现象可能是其在长期进化过程中抵抗环境干扰、保护繁育器官和提高授粉几率而形成的一种适应策略。     

高原健康居民某些内分泌激素的变化及其生理意义

本文在海拔10m(青岛)、2260m(青海西宁)和3700m(青海玉树)三个高度,用放射免疫法,测定445例健康人血四碘甲腺原氨酸(T_4)、三碘甲腺原氨酸(T_3)、3,3’,5’三碘甲腺原氨酸(rT3)皮质醇(F)和醛固酮(ALD)含量。结果发现:(1)高海拔地区世居藏族与有15年以上移居史的汉族居民五项测值间无显著差别(P>0.05);(2)高海拔地区居民T_3、T_4、F和ALD含量降低(P<0.05～0.001),而rT3则升高(P<0.01)。这些变化的生理意义,可能反映了高原居民对低氧环境的一种慢性适应机制。在某些高原疾病防治中,适当应用肾上腺皮质激素,可能有一定临床价值。     

Low P50 in deer mice native to high altitude

Whereas it is widely believed that animals native to high altitude show lower O2 partial pressures at 50% hemoglobin saturation (P50) than do related animals native to low altitude, that "fact" has not been well documented. Consequently, P50 at pH 7.4, PCO2(7.4), the CO2 Bohr effect, and the buffer slope (delta log PCO2/delta pH) were determined via the mixing technique in Peromyscus maniculatus native to a range of altitudes but acclimated to 340 or 3,800 m. PCO2(7.4) and buffer slope were substantially lower at high altitude. The change in P50(7.4) between acclimation altitudes was minimal (0.8% increase at 3,800 m), because of counterbalancing changes in PCO2, 2,3-diphospho-D-glycerate concentration, and perhaps other factors. At both acclimation altitudes there was a highly significant negative correlation between P50(7.4) and native altitude. Since pH in vivo probably increases slightly at high altitude, the data on P50 corrected to pH 7.4 are probably underestimates of the difference in in vivo P50 at low vs. high altitude. Hence these results corroborate theoretical predictions that low P50 is advantageous under severe hypoxic stress.     

太白山独叶草无性系分株营养元素含量对异质环境的响应

以分布在太白山国家森林公园3个海拔高度的游击型克隆植物独叶草为研究对象,分析测定了不同分株营养器官中C、N、P、K和Mg含量.结果表明：分株年龄、海拔梯度以及分株年龄与海拔梯度的交互作用对独叶草分株各营养器官全碳含量的影响不显著(P>0.05),对全氮、全磷、K和Mg含量的影响程度各不相同,说明独叶草无性系分株通过自身的生理代谢调整了各器官中营养元素的分配.在高海拔生境中,分株年龄显著影响独叶草无性系分株各器官的K含量、根状茎和根中的全氮含量(P<0.05).除了中海拔(2 800～2 900 m) 独叶草无性系分株的K与全氮、全磷和Mg含量相关性不明显外,其他海拔各元素两两间均呈显著相关(P<0.05).这表明高海拔生境中生理可塑性对克隆植物生长的贡献可能比低海拔更大,强的生理可塑性有助于克隆植物在高山环境中有效地利用资源,实现种群扩展、开拓新的生境.这也可能是独叶草在长期演化过程中对异质生境的一种生理响应.     

青海地区藏汉族人群下颌第二磨牙根管形态的锥形束CT研究

目的:采用锥形束CT(Cone Beam CT,CBCT)技术探讨青海地区藏汉族人群下颌第二磨牙根管形态、数量以及C型根管发生率和髓腔差值的异同。方法:从2016年5月到2018年12月青大附院口腔门诊牙齿CBCT扫描结果中选择藏、汉民下颌第二磨牙各300颗,其中汉族150例,藏族150例。按照Vertucci分类对根管进行分型,探究青海地区藏、汉族人群下颌第二磨牙根管形态特点,同时对牙根类型、C型根管数量和发生率进行统计研究。结果:青海地区藏汉族人群下颌第二磨牙牙根类型以双根牙为主,且其在藏族人群中的发生率高于汉族人群。青海地区藏汉族人群下颌第二磨牙的根管分型以Ⅰ型和C型根管所占比例最高。在青海地区汉族人群和藏族人群下颌第二磨牙中,C形根管所占比率分别为40.7%和27.0%,汉族人群C型根管发生率显著高于藏族人群(P0.05)。在青海地区藏汉人群下颌第二磨牙中,女性的发生率显著高于男性(P0.05)。青海地区藏族人群的MB-DB、DB-P平均值显著高于汉族人群(P0.05)。结论:青海地区藏汉族人群下颌第二磨牙根管形态基本类似,C型根管发生率汉族人群是远远大于藏族人群的,具有一定的种族差异性。但是C型根管发生率在青海地区藏汉人群中都是女性大于男性。同时藏族人群髓腔差值也具有一定的种族差异性。     

川西米亚罗林区主要树木生长对气候响应的差异

为分析青藏高原东缘半湿润区不同树种树木生长对气候变化的响应规律,于川西米亚罗林区海拔3000 m左右(低海拔)采集铁杉、岷江冷杉、紫果云杉,海拔4000 m左右林线位置(高海拔)采集岷江冷杉、四川红杉,共计182棵树木年轮样芯,建立了不同树种的树轮宽度年表,对不同树种的年轮指数与各月气候因子进行相关分析.结果表明： 在低海拔处,树木生长与4、5月气温呈负相关,与4、5月降雨呈正相关,受到春季干旱胁迫的影响;但树种之间存在显著差异： 铁杉的生长受春季干旱胁迫影响最严重,岷江冷杉次之,紫果云杉所受影响很小.在高海拔处,树木生长主要受生长季温度的影响,岷江冷杉年轮指数与当年2、7月最低气温呈显著正相关,与上一年10月最高气温亦呈正相关;四川红杉年轮指数与5月最高气温呈显著正相关,但与2月均温、3月最低气温呈显著负相关.近几十年青藏高原东北缘气候有干暖化趋势,如果这种趋势持续发生,低海拔紫果云杉长势将超过铁杉和岷江冷杉;高海拔处的升温更有利于岷江冷杉的生长.     

Hemoglobin concentration of pastoral nomads permanently resident at 4,850-5,450 meters in Tibet

This paper presents data on the hemoglobin concentration of a sample of 103 pastoral nomads who are lifelong residents of Phala, at 4,850-5,450 m, on the northern plateau of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the Peoples' Republic of China. This native population resides at the highest altitude of which we are aware and is thus exposed to the most extreme chronic hypoxic stress. However, they do not exhibit the most pronounced physiological adaptations, i.e., hemoglobin concentrations exceeding those found in all other high-altitude populations. Adult male and female mean hemoglobin concentrations of 18.2 and 16.7 gm/dl, respectively, were found. These data, in conjunction with earlier studies of ethnic Tibetans living at 3,400 m, demonstrate a pattern of increasing hemoglobin concentration (erythrocytosis) at increasing altitude of residence in the Himalayas and Tibet. At the same time, however, the hemoglobin concentration is lower than that found among Andean highlanders. These new data raise the possibility of quantitative population differences in hematological adaptation to high altitude hypoxia.     

Gender alters impact of hypobaric hypoxia on adductor pollicis muscle performance.

Recently, we reported that, at similar voluntary force development during static submaximal intermittent contractions of the adductor pollicis muscle, fatigue developed more slowly in women than in men under conditions of normobaric normoxia (NN) (Acta Physiol Scand 167: 233-239, 1999). We postulated that the slower fatigue of women was due, in part, to a greater capacity for muscle oxidative phosphorylation. The present study examined whether a gender difference in adductor pollicis muscle performance also exists during acute exposure to hypobaric hypoxia (HH; 4,300-m altitude). Healthy young men (n = 12) and women (n = 21) performed repeated static contractions at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force of rested muscle for 5 s followed by 5 s of rest until exhaustion. MVC force was measured before and at the end of each minute of exercise and at exhaustion. Exhaustion was defined as an MVC force decline to 50% of that of rested muscle. For each gender, MVC force of rested muscle in HH was not significantly different from that in NN. MVC force tended to decline at a faster rate in HH than in NN for men but not for women. In both environments, MVC force declined faster (P < 0.01) for men than for women. For men, endurance time to exhaustion was shorter (P < 0.01) in HH than in NN [6.08 +/- 0.7 vs. 8.00 +/- 0.7 (SE) min]. However, for women, endurance time to exhaustion was similar (not significant) in HH (12.86 +/- 1.2 min) and NN (13.95 +/- 1.0 min). In both environments, endurance time to exhaustion was longer for women than for men (P < 0.01). Gender differences in the impact of HH on adductor pollicis muscle endurance persisted in a smaller number of men and women matched (n = 4 pairs) for MVC force of rested muscle and thus on submaximal absolute force and, by inference, ATP demand in both environments. In contrast to gender differences in the impact of HH on small-muscle (adductor pollicis) exercise performance, peak O(2) uptake during large-muscle exercise was lower in HH than in NN by a similar (P > 0.05) percentage for men and women (-27.6 +/- 2 and -25.1 +/- 2%, respectively). Our findings are consistent with the postulate of a higher adductor pollicis muscle oxidative capacity in women than in men and imply that isolated performance of muscle with a higher oxidative capacity may be less impaired when the muscle is exposed to HH.     

The effect of gender and age on growth hormone replacement in growth hormone-deficient patients.

We analyzed the effect of growth hormone replacement therapy (36 months) analyzed at a dose adjusted to maintain serum insulin-like growth factor-I level between the median and the upper end of the age-related reference range on bone mineral density, body composition, and carbohydrate metabolism with respect to gender and age in 20 adult patients (9 women, 11 men, mean age: 43 years, range: 21-61 years). The lumbar and femoral T-score was increased after 12 and after 18 months of therapy respectively in men (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002), but did not changed significantly in women. The increase of femoral T-score was greater in young men (< or = 45 years, n = 6) than old men (> 45 years, n = 5, p < 0.001). Body fat was lower in men than in women after 6 months (p = 0.002). The waist/hip ratio only decreased in women (p = 0.044). The waist circumference decreased in both genders after 6 months of therapy (p < 0.001), but more markedly in females than in males (p < 0.05). The sum of skinfold thicknesses was reduced in males after 6 months of therapy (p < 0.001). Changes in body composition parameters measured were independent of age. The glycosylated hemoglobin increased without sex or age difference after 12 months of initiation of therapy (p < 0.001), but fasting glucose and insulin levels did not change during the therapy. Our results indicate that the effect of growth hormone replacement on bone mineral content in adults is age- and gender-dependent, gender dependent on body composition, but independent of age and gender on carbohydrate metabolism.     

不同海拔地区藏族就诊人群血脂、血液黏度、HCY水平与心血管疾病的相关性研究

目的:探讨不同海拔地区藏族就诊人群血脂、血液黏度、HCY水平与心血管疾病的相关性。方法:采用回顾性分析的方法,将328例来自不同海拔地区的藏族就诊患者为三组,高海拔组(纳入99例),中海拔(纳入120例)和低海拔组(纳入109例),比较不同海拔高度组患者血压、血脂、血液黏度、HCY、疾病类型的差异,采用多元Logistic回归模型分析藏族就诊人群心血管疾病发病的影响因素。结果:不同海拔组收缩压、舒张压、血清HCY、TC、TG、HDL-C、LDL-C水平、全血黏度低切、中切、高切、血浆黏度和红细胞压积比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05),随着海拔升高,收缩压、舒张压、血清HCY、TC、TG以及LDL-C、全血黏度低切、中切、高切、血浆黏度和红细胞压积水平显著升高(P0.05),而血清HDL-C水平显著下降。41.8%(137/328)的就诊者至少患有一种心血管疾病,和非心血管组比较,心血管疾病组年龄明显偏高,居住主要分布在中度及高度海拔地区,合并高血糖、高血脂、高HCY的比例均明显较高,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。年龄、海拔、高血糖、高血脂、高HCY均和心血管疾病相关(r=-0.230~0.334,P0.05)。多元Logistic回归分析显示年龄、居住地海拔、HCY水平、全血低切粘度、TG水平、LDL-C等因素是心血管疾病发生的危险因素,HDL-C是保护因素。结论:来自不同海拔地区的就诊人群在血压、血脂、血液黏度、HCY水平以及心血管疾病患者占比不同。年龄、居住地海拔、HCY水平、血液黏度、血脂水平等增加可能使高原藏族人群心血管疾病发生风险增加。     

Plasma gonadotrophins, prolactin and corticosterone concentrations in male mice exposed to high altitude

Groups of sexually-naive male NFR/N mice were maintained at sea level or exposed to simulated altitudes of 18 000 ft (5486 m) or 22 000 ft (6705 m) for 1, 3, 7, 14 or 28 days. Plasma LH concentrations were slightly but not significantly depressed after 1 day of hypoxia. Plasma FSH values were reduced (P < 0.05) after 1, 7, 14 and 28 days of exposure to 22 000 ft when compared to the values in the other groups. Prolactin concentrations fluctuated considerably, but were not uniformly affected by high altitude exposure. Exposure to 18 000 ft resulted in an elevation of plasma corticosterone concentration (P < 0.05) for 3 days, which was followed by a decline to control group values, whereas at 22 000 ft corticosterone levels remained elevated. These findings indicate that plasma LH values are transiently reduced during the initial 24 h of exposure to high altitude and that plasma FSH concentrations are depressed in a sustained manner during severe hypoxia.     

急性低氧对高原土生动物藏系绵羊血气的影响

为了探讨急性低氧时藏系绵羊(Ovis aries)的血气特点,揭示其低氧适应机制,将7只雄性藏系绵羊和5只雄性移居绵羊分别置于高低压氧舱内,测定模拟海拔0、2 300和4 500 m时各动物清醒状态下的血气指标。用热稀释法测定心输出量。使用血气分析仪和EG7血样板,测定动脉及混合静脉血的血气指标,按Ficks方法计算氧耗量。结果显示,随着模拟海拔高度的升高,藏羊和移居羊的动静脉血氧饱和度(So2)、氧分压(Po2)、二氧化碳分压(Pco2)都呈明显下降趋势(P<0.05),血红蛋白浓度(Hb)、血液pH、心输出量及氧耗量虽无明显的差异性改变,但它们在4 500 m处的绝对值是增加的。在相同海拔,藏羊的Hb明显低于移居羊(P<0.05),4 500 m时藏羊的动脉血氧饱和度(Sao2)及组织摄氧量显著高于移居羊(P<0.05)。表明藏羊在急性低氧时表现出的高Sao2及高组织摄氧量,低Hb、低pH是它适应高原低氧的生理基础。     

Gender difference in cardiovagal baroreflex gain in humans.

We tested the hypothesis that women would demonstrate lower cardiovagal baroreflex gain compared with men. If so, we further hypothesized that the lower cardiovagal baroreflex gain in women would be associated with their lower aerobic fitness and higher body fat percentage compared with men. To accomplish this, we measured cardiovagal baroreflex gain (modified Oxford technique) in sedentary, nonobese (body mass index < 25 kg/m2) men (age = 26.0 +/- 2.1 yr, n = 11) and women (age = 26.9 +/- 1.6 yr, n = 14). Resting R-R interval and diastolic blood pressure were similar in the two groups, but systolic blood pressure was lower (P < 0.05) in the women. Cardiovagal baroreflex gain was significantly lower in the women compared with the men (13.3 +/- 1.5 vs. 20.0 +/- 2.8 ms/mmHg, P < 0.05). The lower cardiovagal baroreflex gain in the women was not related (P > 0.05) to their lower aerobic fitness and was only marginally related to their higher body fat percentage (r = -0.34, P < 0.05). There were no gender differences in the threshold and saturation, operating range, or operating point (all P > 0.05), although the operating point fell significantly to left (i.e., at a lower systolic blood pressure) compared with men. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that the gain of the cardiovagal baroreflex is reduced whereas other parameters were similar in women compared with men. The mechanisms responsible for the reduced cardiovagal baroreflex gain remain unclear.     

Gender differences in regional body composition and somatotrophic influences of IGF-I and leptin.

This study evaluated the arm, trunk, and leg for fat mass, lean soft tissue mass, and bone mineral content (BMC) assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in a group of age-matched (approximately 29 yr) men (n = 57) and women (n = 63) and determined their relationship to insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and leptin. After analysis of covariance adjustment to control for differences in body mass between genders, the differences that persisted (P < or = 0.05) were for lean soft tissue mass of the arm (men: 7.1 kg vs. women: 6.4 kg) and fat mass of the leg (men: 5.3 kg vs. women: 6.8 kg). Men and women had similar (P > or = 0.05) values for fat mass of the arms and trunk and lean soft tissue mass of the legs and trunk. Serum IGF-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 correlated (P < or = 0.05) with all measures of BMC (r values ranged from 0.31 to 0.39) and some measures of lean soft tissue mass for women (r = 0.30) but not men. Leptin correlated (P < or = 0.05) similarly for measures of fat mass for both genders (r values ranging from 0.74 to 0.85) and for lean soft tissue mass of the trunk (r = 0.40) and total body (r = 0.32) for men and for the arms in women (r = 0.56). These data demonstrate that 1) the main phenotypic gender differences in body composition are that men have more of their muscle mass in their arms and women have more of their fat mass in their legs and 2) gender differences exist in the relationship between somatotrophic hormones and lean soft tissue mass.