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Stacey BS, Hoiland RL, Caldwell HG, Howe CA, Vermeulen T, Tymko MM, Vizcardo‐Galindo GA, Bermudez D, Figueroa‐Mujíica RJ, Gasho C, Tuaillon E, Hirtz C, Lehmann S, Marchi N, Tsukamoto H, Villafuerte FC, Ainslie PN, Bailey DM. Lifelong exposure to high-altitude hypoxia in humans is associated with improved redox homeostasis and structural-functional adaptations of the neurovascular unit. J Physiol 2023; 601:1095-1120. [PMID: 36633375 PMCID: PMC10952731 DOI: 10.1113/jp283362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
High-altitude (HA) hypoxia may alter the structural-functional integrity of the neurovascular unit (NVU). Herein, we compared male lowlanders (n = 9) at sea level (SL) and after 14 days acclimatization to 4300 m (chronic HA) in Cerro de Pasco (CdP), Péru (HA), against sex-, age- and body mass index-matched healthy highlanders (n = 9) native to CdP (lifelong HA). Venous blood was assayed for serum proteins reflecting NVU integrity, in addition to free radicals and nitric oxide (NO). Regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) was examined in conjunction with cerebral substrate delivery, dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA), cerebrovascular reactivity to carbon dioxide (CVRCO2 ) and neurovascular coupling (NVC). Psychomotor tests were employed to examine cognitive function. Compared to lowlanders at SL, highlanders exhibited elevated basal plasma and red blood cell NO bioavailability, improved anterior and posterior dCA, elevated anterior CVRCO2 and preserved cerebral substrate delivery, NVC and cognition. In highlanders, S100B, neurofilament light-chain (NF-L) and T-tau were consistently lower and cognition comparable to lowlanders following chronic-HA. These findings highlight novel integrated adaptations towards regulation of the NVU in highlanders that may represent a neuroprotective phenotype underpinning successful adaptation to the lifelong stress of HA hypoxia. KEY POINTS: High-altitude (HA) hypoxia has the potential to alter the structural-functional integrity of the neurovascular unit (NVU) in humans. For the first time, we examined to what extent chronic and lifelong hypoxia impacts multimodal biomarkers reflecting NVU structure and function in lowlanders and native Andean highlanders. Despite lowlanders presenting with a reduction in systemic oxidative-nitrosative stress and maintained cerebral bioenergetics and cerebrovascular function during chronic hypoxia, there was evidence for increased axonal injury and cognitive impairment. Compared to lowlanders at sea level, highlanders exhibited elevated vascular NO bioavailability, improved dynamic regulatory capacity and cerebrovascular reactivity, comparable cerebral substrate delivery and neurovascular coupling, and maintained cognition. Unlike lowlanders following chronic HA, highlanders presented with lower concentrations of S100B, neurofilament light chain and total tau. These findings highlight novel integrated adaptations towards the regulation of the NVU in highlanders that may represent a neuroprotective phenotype underpinning successful adaptation to the lifelong stress of HA hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin S. Stacey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesPontypriddUK
| | - Ryan L. Hoiland
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vancouver General HospitalUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Hannah G. Caldwell
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular HealthUniversity of British Columbia‐Okanagan CampusKelownaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Connor A. Howe
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular HealthUniversity of British Columbia‐Okanagan CampusKelownaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Tyler Vermeulen
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular HealthUniversity of British Columbia‐Okanagan CampusKelownaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Michael M. Tymko
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular HealthUniversity of British Columbia‐Okanagan CampusKelownaBritish ColumbiaCanada
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and RecreationUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Gustavo A. Vizcardo‐Galindo
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Comparada, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y FilosofíaUniversidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaLima 31Peru
| | - Daniella Bermudez
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Comparada, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y FilosofíaUniversidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaLima 31Peru
| | - Rómulo J. Figueroa‐Mujíica
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Comparada, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y FilosofíaUniversidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaLima 31Peru
| | - Christopher Gasho
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical CareLoma Linda University School of MedicineLoma LindaCAUSA
| | - Edouard Tuaillon
- Department of Infectious DiseasesUniversity of MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Christophe Hirtz
- LBPC‐PPCUniversité de Montpellier, IRMB CHU de Montpellier, INM INSERMMontpellierFrance
| | - Sylvain Lehmann
- LBPC‐PPCUniversité de Montpellier, IRMB CHU de Montpellier, INM INSERMMontpellierFrance
| | - Nicola Marchi
- Laboratory of Cerebrovascular and Glia Research, Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Functional GenomicsUniversity of MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Hayato Tsukamoto
- Faculty of Sport and Health ScienceRitsumeikan UniversityKusatsuShigaJapan
| | - Francisco C. Villafuerte
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Comparada, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y FilosofíaUniversidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaLima 31Peru
| | - Philip N. Ainslie
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesPontypriddUK
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular HealthUniversity of British Columbia‐Okanagan CampusKelownaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Damian M. Bailey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesPontypriddUK
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Dolscheid-Pommerich RC, Stoffel-Wagner B, Fimmers R, Eichhorn L. Changes in hormones after apneic hypoxia/hypercapnia - an investigation in voluntary apnea divers. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2022; 298:103845. [PMID: 35041989 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2022.103845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prolonged apnea is characterized by hypoxia/hypercapnia. Hypoxia can be associated with hormonal dysfunction. We raised the question as to whether steroid hormonal and gonadotropin levels could be influenced by short-term hypoxia/hypercapnia in a model of dry apnea in trained apnea divers. METHODS Adrenal, sex steroid and pituitary hormones were measured in ten trained voluntary apnea divers before, immediately after, 0.5 h and 4 h after a maximal breath-hold. Apnea was carried out under dry conditions. RESULTS Corticosterone, progesterone, cortisol, 17-OH-progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione showed a significant continuous increase with a maximum at 0.5 h after apnea, followed by a decrease back to or below baseline at 4 h after apnea. Testosterone, estradiol, cortisone and dihydrotestosterone showed a decrease 4 h after apnea. Dehydroepiandrosteronesulfate, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) showed no significant changes. CONCLUSION Even a single apnea resulted in two different patterns of hormone response to apnea, with increased adrenal and reduced sex steroid levels, while LH/FSH showed no clear kinetic reaction. Apnea divers might be a suitable clinical model for hypoxic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Dolscheid-Pommerich
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
| | - B Stoffel-Wagner
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - R Fimmers
- Institute for Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - L Eichhorn
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Richalet JP, Letournel M, Souberbielle JC. Effects of high-altitude hypoxia on the hormonal response to hypothalamic factors. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2010; 299:R1685-92. [PMID: 20926759 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00484.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Acute and chronic exposure to high altitude induces various physiological changes, including activation or inhibition of various hormonal systems. In response to activation processes, a desensitization of several pathways has been described, especially in the adrenergic system. In the present study, we aimed to assess whether the hypophyseal hormones are also subjected to a hypoxia-induced decrease in their response to hypothalamic factors. Basal levels of hormones and the responses of TSH, thyroid hormones, prolactin, sex hormones, and growth hormone to the injection of TRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) were studied in eight men in normoxia and on prolonged exposure (3-4 days) to an altitude of 4,350 m. Thyroid hormones were elevated at altitude (+16 to +21%), while TSH levels were unchanged, and follicle-stimulating hormone and prolactin decreased, while leutinizing hormone was unchanged. Norepinephrine and cortisol levels were elevated, while no change was observed in levels of epinephrine, dopamine, growth hormone (GH), IGF-1, and IGFBP-3. The mean response to hypothalamic factors was similar in both altitudes for all studied hormones, although total T4 was lower in hypoxia during 45 to 60 min after injection. The effect of hypoxia on the hypophyseal response to hypothalamic factors was similar among subjects, except for the GH response to GHRH administration. We conclude that prolonged exposure to high-altitude hypoxia induces contrasted changes in hormonal levels, but the hypophyseal response to hypothalamic factors does not appear to be blunted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Richalet
- Université Paris 13, Unité de Formation et de Recherche Santé Médecine Biologie Humaine, Laboratoire Réponses Cellulaires et Fonctionnelles à l'Hypoxie, Bobigny, France.
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Kobrick JL, Johnson RF. Measurement of Subjective Reactions to Extreme Environments: The Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire. MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY 2009. [DOI: 10.1207/s15327876mp0604_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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Coste O, Van Beers P, Charbuy H, Bogdan A, Touitou Y. Simulation of long-haul flights in humans: prolonged mild hypoxia does not alter the circadian time structure of plasma testosterone and gonadotrophins. Steroids 2006; 71:214-21. [PMID: 16413589 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2005.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2005] [Revised: 10/12/2005] [Accepted: 10/20/2005] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Mild hypobaric hypoxia caused by pressurisation may contribute to alter rhythmicity after long-haul flights, independently of the number of time zones crossed. In this controlled crossover study, we assessed the effects of two levels of hypoxia, equivalent to 8000 ft and 12,000 ft above sea level, on the rhythm of plasma concentrations of three hormones: testosterone, LH, and FSH. A hypoxia-induced decrease in LH and FSH has often been reported during mountaineering while testosterone is considered a marker of fatigue. Sixteen healthy male volunteers, aged 23-39 years, spent 8 h in a hypobaric chamber (08:00-16:30), simulating conditions at 8000 ft. This was followed by an additional 8 h four weeks later, simulating conditions at 12,000 ft. Plasma hormones were assayed every 2 h over two 24-h cycles (control and hypoxic-exposure cycles). We found no significant effects of hypoxia on the circadian profile of the gonadal axis hormones and, therefore, conclude that these hormones do not serve as valuable markers of post-flight alterations of the circadian system in human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Coste
- Service de Biochimie Médicale et Biologie Moléculaire and INSERM U 713, Faculté de Médecine Pierre et Marie Curie, 75634 Paris Cedex 13, France
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Heinz A, Rommelspacher H, Gräf KJ, Kürten I, Otto M, Baumgartner A. Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, prolactin, and cortisol in alcoholics during withdrawal and after three weeks of abstinence: comparison with healthy control subjects. Psychiatry Res 1995; 56:81-95. [PMID: 7792345 DOI: 10.1016/0165-1781(94)02580-c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, androstenedione, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin, cortisol, and prolactin were measured in 12 male chronic alcoholics once during withdrawal and once after 21 days of abstinence. The results were compared with those of 14 healthy volunteers. During withdrawal, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and cortisol levels were significantly enhanced. Estradiol and cortisol concentrations fell significantly during abstinence, whereas luteinizing hormone concentrations remained elevated. The results may be interpreted as follows: the well-known inhibitory effect of alcohol on the biosynthesis of testosterone may have led to a compensatory increase in luteinizing hormone secretion, so that normal serum concentrations of testosterone were maintained. On the other hand, peripheral conversion from androstenedione to estradiol via aromatase pathways seemed to be enhanced in chronic alcoholics, at least during withdrawal. Whether this marked increase in estradiol concentrations is implicated in different clinical and psychological symptoms seen in chronic alcoholics remains to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Heinz
- Psychiatric Clinic, Berlin, Germany
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Vasankari TJ, Rusko H, Kujala UM, Huhtaniemi IT. The effect of ski training at altitude and racing on pituitary, adrenal and testicular function in men. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY AND OCCUPATIONAL PHYSIOLOGY 1993; 66:221-5. [PMID: 8477677 DOI: 10.1007/bf00235097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The effect of similar prolonged exercise on hormonal changes was studied at sea level and at moderate altitude. Four cross-country skiers participated in a 30-km race and five biathlonists in a 20-km race at sea level in Finland and during altitude training and racing at 1650 m in Les Saisies, France. Venous blood samples were taken at both altitudes before the race between 0800 and 0900 hours and 25-35 min after the race. Resting blood samples were also taken before and after the altitude training and the period of racing. Serum testosterone concentration was higher before the race at altitude than at sea level (19%, P < 0.02), and 30 min after the race growth hormone (GH) concentration was higher at sea level than at moderate altitude (P < 0.002). There were not significant differences in serum luteinising hormone between the altitudes. Serum cortisol concentration was higher after the altitude training and the period of racing than before (P < 0.02) but no difference was observed in testosterone. We concluded, that since the profiles of the anabolic-catabolic hormone concentrations measured are indicators of the performance level of athletes, our data indicated that to follow them during altitude training could be beneficial in optimizing training programme for individual athletes. We also concluded, that the lower GH concentration after racing at moderate altitude may have been a consequence of decreased racing speed and/or increased physical performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Vasankari
- Department of Physiology, University of Turku, Finland
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Hewitt PE, Machin SJ. ABC of transfusion. Massive blood transfusion. BMJ (CLINICAL RESEARCH ED.) 1990; 300:107-9. [PMID: 2105753 PMCID: PMC1662019 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.300.6717.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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