Acclimatization

Paper Summary:

This paper examines acclimatization, the process by which the body adapts to changes in altitude. The body's various physiological responses to acclimatization are discussed, such as increased pulmonary ventilation and the presence of abnormally high numbers of red blood cells in the circulatory system known as polycythemia, among others. The paper concludes with a literature review which cites and analyzes various research studies in acclimatization.

Outline:
Increased Pulmonary Ventilation
Polycythemia
Rightward Shift in the Oxygen Dissociation Curve
Changes in Capillarization
Changes in Oxidative Enzymes Within Cells
References

From the Paper:

" Increased resting and submaximal ventilation is observed in immediate response to altitude related hypoxia (Wyatt, 2002). This increased ventilation is achieved through increased volume and rate of breaths, and individual variation in hypoxic ventilatory response has been demonstrated (Wyatt, 2002). Research has shown that individuals with strong hypoxic ventilatory drives exhibit better performance at high altitudes than individuals with less efficient drives (Wyatt, 2002). The stimulated ventilation that results from exposure to high altitudes is due to aortic and carotid sensitivity to reduced PO2 in arterial blood. This increase in ventilation increases PO2 in the alveoli and reduces end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PETCO2), which lends to reduced carbon dioxide and H+ in the blood. In response to these reductions during the initial few days of exposure to altitude, the kidneys gradually excrete bicarbonate (HCO3), which is associated with decreased plasma volume. Increased pulmonary ventilation also results in a reduction in total water in the body due to loss of water vapor that occurs during respiration, which results in rapid dehydration during acute altitude exposure (Wyatt, 2002)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Donoghue, S., Fatemian, M., Balanos, G.M., Crosby, A., Liu, C., O'Connor, D., Talbot, N.P., Robbins, P.A. "Ventilatory Acclimatization in Response to Very Small Changes in PO2 in Humans." Journal of Applied Physiology 98 (2005): 1587-91.
• Green, H.J., Sutton, J.R., Cymerman, A., Young, P.M., Houston, C.S. "Operation Everest II: Adaptations in Human Skeletal Muscle." Journal of Applied Physiology 66.5 (1989): 2454-61.
• Hoppeler, H., Vogt, M. "Muscle Tissue Adaptations to Hypoxia." The Journal of Experimental Biology 204 (2001): 3133-9.
• Hoppeler, H., Vogt, M., Weibel, E.R., Fluck, M. "Response of Skeletal Muscle Mirochondria to Hypoxia." Experimental Physiology 88.1 (2003): 109-19.
• Lundby, C., Pilegaard, H., Andersen, J., Hall, G., Sander, M., Calbet, J.A.L. "Acclimatization to 4100 m Does Not Change Capillary Density or mRNA Expression of Potential Angiogenesis Regulatory Factors in Human Skeletal Muscle." Journal of Experimental Biology 207 (2004): 3865-71.

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