抄録
Hypobaric hypoxia has been recognized as a significant physiological threat at high altitude. The
effects of physical / psychological stress of sustained exposure to hypobaric hypoxia are still
unknown. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is prevalent in >90% of the world’s population. Several studies
have suggested that various stressful events are associated with onset, duration, and intensity of EBV
reactivation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the EBV reactivation in instructors of
hypobaric chamber training. Subjects were 5 male instructors on volunteer basis. At least 3 months
before the experiment started, the instructors did not engaged in hypobaric chamber trainings. Serum
and saliva samples were collected at one day before a hypobaric chamber training (Pre), 2 weeks
(2W) and 4 weeks (4W) after the training. Early antigen (EA) antibodies, anti-viral capsid antigen
(VCA) and anti-EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) antibodies were measured in serum samples by using
an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The number of copies of EBV DNA was measured in saliva
samples by using a real-time polymerase chain reaction. Apparently, there were no differences
between Pre and 2W/4W in our measurements. In one instructor, however, it was interesting to note
that the number of EBV DNA copies at 2W/4W were 10-fold higher than Pre. Further studies are
required to evaluate the herpesvirus reactivation in instructors of hypobaric chamber training.
