title: [Strategies of adaptation of oxygen transport systems in mammals to life at high altitude].
abstract: Like many mammalian species, man responds to exposure to high altitude with an increasing hemoglobin concentration and a decreasing blood O2-affinity. The Lama vicugna of the Andes does not show this kind of adaptation to altitude. Even at high altitude its hematocrit is unusually low and its O2-affinity is the highest known among mammals. Additionally, it is characterized by a high capillary density of the muscles and a large relative heart weight. The consequences of these different strategies of altitude adaptation of the oxygen supply system and the capability for physical performance are discussed.
authors: Vegetative Physiologie der Medizinischen Hochschule, Hannover.
authors: K D
authors: KD
authors: Jürgens
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D001188:Artiodactyla / Q000502:physiology*; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000502:physiology*; D006400:Hematocrit; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013020:South America
chemical_list: D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D010100:Oxygen
vernacular_title: Strategien der Anpassung des Sauerstofftransportsystems von Säugetieren an das Leben in grossen Höhen.