title: The effect of high altitude on the glycolytic activity of erythrocytes in natives of the Andean Altiplano.
abstract: Glucose consumption by anaerobic glycolysis and the pentose pathway were studied in two Aymara populations living at different altitudes (3 600 m and 450 m). The measurements were made both with and without methylene blue. We observed a Pasteur effect for both pathways which may explain the increase in 2-3 DPG and ATP levels found in blood samples from people living at high altitudes. The results in the presence of methylene blue showed a reduced activity of the methaemoglobin reductase system in the high altitude group which may be partly responsible for their increased levels of methaemoglobin.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001838:Bolivia; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006019:Glycolysis; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000378:metabolism; D010428:Pentosephosphates / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D010428:Pentosephosphates; D008751:Methylene Blue