A study of high-altitude hypoxia-induced cell stress in murine model.
We evaluated the effects of high-altitude hypoxic stress in the murine model. For this purpose, 36 CR-mice in group A were maintained at the altitude of 3,820 m for hypoxia-induced factor (HIF)-1α expression analysis by immunohistochemistry. The 36 Wistar rats in group B were maintained in low-pressure (400-420 kPa) oxygen chamber, and the effects of hypoxia on myocardial mitochondria were studied. In the 36 CR-mice of group C, plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were determined using strept-avidin-biotin complex/diaminobenzidine method after exposure to different altitudes/O(2)-concentrations. The data show that in experimental group A1, endothelin (ET)-1α concentrations gradually increased whereas HIF-1α expression in myocardial cells was higher (P < 0.01) than in control group A2. In rats of group B, the myocardial mitochondria numbers were reduced during the initial phase of acute stress response to hypoxia and cellular injury but, later, mitochondrial numbers were restored to normal values. In mice of experimental group C1, plasma VEGF concentrations increased under hypoxia, which were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than those of control group C2. We, therefore, concluded that high-altitude hypoxia: (i) induced HIF-1α expression; (ii) prompted adaptation/acclimatization after initial stress and cellular injury; and (iii) enhanced VEGF expression in murine.
Clinical Testing Center of Chengdu Military, Chengdu North Tianhui Avenue 270, Chengdu 610083, Sichuan, China. cdhujuan@163.com
Hu
H
Juan
Wang
W
Qijun
Hu
H
Yuanheng
Li
L
Yangfang
D000064:Acclimatization; D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010496:Pericardium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D019332:Endothelin-1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D010100:Oxygen