title: Effects of a hyperbaric environment on subcutaneous adipose tissue topography (SAT-top).
abstract: The physiological reactions of the body in scuba diving situation can be simulated in a pressure chamber by increasing the ambient pressure. In this study the influence of a hyperbaric environment of 6 bar on the changes of the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) thicknesses on different body sites in 68 voluntary men with undersea diving experience was investigated. Measurements of SAT-topography (SAT-Top) were performed with the optical device Lipometer before and after hyperbaric exposure. We observed a significant increase of the SAT-layers of the upper body zones, upper abdomen (+24.5%), lower abdomen (+21%) and front chest (+19%) after hyperbaric exposure. This increase of volume can be assumed to the nitrogen accumulation in fat cells at increased ambient pressures. In conclusion we describe for the first time in detail the influence of a hyperbaric environment on quantitative and topographic changes of SAT.
authors.affiliation: Medical University Graz, Center for Physiological Medicine, Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Horejsi
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tafeit
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fraidl
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dietmaier
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Anegg
authors.forename: Huberta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Klemen
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wallner-Liebmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000033:anatomy & histology*