Some Observations of Acclimatization to High Altitudes

Abstract

The author selected such alpine heights above sea level as 3, 000 meters (Hodaka Dake), 2, 800 meters (Norikura Dake) and 2, 000 meters (Ena San) and conducted studies, with rabbits and healthy adults as the subjects, as to what type of in vivo reaction such environmental conditions will bring about. Kinetic observations were made in conjunction with the progress of blood pressure, pulse rate, protective colloids in urine, hepatic function, reticuloendothelial system, number and property of erythrocytes, bone marrow picture, oxygen saturation percent, serum iron, etc. and the following results were obtained.
1) In high altitudes, there was a rise in both systolic blood pressure and diastolic one, but it was more conspicuous in the latter. Also, increase in the pulse rate was noted in all cases during the stay in the mountains, and the rate was the highest on the second and third day of mountain-climbing with a gradual decline thereafter, but a return to normal was seen soon after descent from the mountains. Variations of blood pressure and pulse rate in line with postural alterations were generally stronger in high altitudes as compared with level grounds and the duration for it was longer, leading to slow restoration.
2) In high altitudes, a transient increase of protective colloids in urine, owing to sojourn in mountains, was observed with the manifestation of abnormal values with increasing frequency. This increase of protective colloids in urine was reduced through the administration of a sensitive pigment, Platonin. By means of the addition of physical exercises and environmental changes due to mountain-climbing, the average urinary amount of protective colloids in 16 subjects became about twice as much as that prior to the climbing.
3) The summation of the results on the serum icteric index, discharge of urobilinogen in urine, pigment-discharging function by bromsulphalein test, serum total protein and electrophoretic analysis was, that under the alpine environment, transient hepatic dysfunction was observed, even though to a slight degree, at the outset of transference to the high altitude.
4) As regards the function of the reticuloendothelial system, observations through the Kongorot coefficient revealed a slight hypofunction at high altitudes and temporary slight-hyperfunction in parallel with the descent from mountains, followed by a gradual restoration to the premountaineering conditions.
5) Splenectomy prior to transference to high altitudes did not exhibit a double-peak rise in the number of erythrocytes usually seen at the time of transference to the altitudes, but showed a transitory single-peak rise with the highest values around the 4th day of mountaineering. Moreover, in splenectomized cases there was vigorous production of erythrocytes in the bone marrow immediately after mountaineering.
6) The oxygen saturation percent in the blood decreases along with the alpine environment and the decrease is considered to be compensated by increase of the hemoglobin and hematocrit values as well as of the diameter of erythrocytes, etc. The decrease of oxygen saturation is continued until the 3rd to 4th day of descent from the mountains.
7) There is a striking reduction of serum iron directly after mountaineering. Afterwards, a slight rise in the amount is perceived during the stay in the mountains but being below the value before climbing. This tendency is recognized after the descent from mountains as well, returning to the premountaineering value in about 3 weeks after the descent.