Hemoglobinemia in rats exposed to high altitude.
A hemoglobinemia occurred in rats exposed to a simulated altitude of 18,000 ft. No biochemical deficits in the erythrocytes or plasma were apparent, and the erythrocytic survival time was normal. This hypoxia-induced hemoglobinemia was not due to intravascular hemolysis and it coexisted with polycythemia, representing a unique hematologic condition. As a result of the hemoglobinemia in altitude-exposed rats, plasma haptoglobin was depleted, a 5- and 10-fold increase in the activities of heme oxygenase were induced in the liver and kidney, respectively, and there was a hemoglobinuria. The possible mechanism for the genesis of this hypoxia-induced hemoglobinemia is discussed.
D000531:Altitude; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004905:Erythrocyte Aging; D004920:Erythropoiesis; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D051381:Rats
D004573:Electrolytes; D006242:Haptoglobins; D006454:Hemoglobins