title: Plasma leptin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in normal subjects at high altitude (5050 m).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High altitude (HA) is a model of severe hypoxia exposure in humans. We hypothesized that nocturnal hypoxemia or acute maximal exercise at HA might affect plasma leptin and VEGF levels.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Plasma leptin, VEGF and other metabolic variables were studied after nocturnal pulse oximetry and after maximal exercise in healthy lowlanders on the 3rd-4th day of stay in Lobuche (5050 m, HA) and after return to sea level (SL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leptin was similar at SL or HA in both pre- and post-exercise conditions. Pre-exercise VEGF at HA was lower, and cortisol was higher, than at SL, suggesting that nocturnal intermittent hypoxia associated with periodic breathing at HA might affect these variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leptin levels appear unaffected at HA, whereas nocturnal hypoxic stress may affect plasma VEGF. Future HA studies should investigate the possible role of nocturnal intermittent hypoxemia on metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience (BIONeC), University of Palermo , Italy .
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morici
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonanno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Licciardi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Passino
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonardi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Locorotondo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Profita
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palange
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cogo
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bonsignore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A