title: Muscle lipofuscin content and satellite cell volume is increased after high altitude exposure in humans.
abstract: Muscle ultrastructural changes during a typical expedition to the Himalayas were analyzed by taking muscle biopsies from seven climbers before and after their sojourn at high altitude (over 5000 m for 8 weeks). M. vastus lateralis samples were analyzed morphometrically from electron micrographs. A quantitative evaluation was made of lipofuscin, satellite cells and myonuclei. Significant increases of the volume densities of lipofuscin (+ 235%) and satellite cells (+ 215%) were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Winterhalder
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cerretelli
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Howald
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoppeler
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D001706:Biopsy; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008062:Lipofuscin; D010860:Pigments, Biological