Open AccessSherpas living permanently at high altitutde: a new pattern of adaptation.
Author(s) -
G. Morpurgo,
Paolo Arese,
Amalia Bosìa,
Gianpiero Pescarmona,
M. Luzzana,
G. Modiano,
S Krishna ranjit
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.73.3.747
Subject(s) - effects of high altitude on humans , altitude (triangle) , hematocrit , adaptation (eye) , hemoglobin , population , biology , demography , endocrinology , anatomy , biochemistry , geometry , mathematics , neuroscience , sociology
Adaptation of Sherpas to high altitude has been studied and compared with that of Caucasians acclimatized to high altitude. Sherpas living permanently at 4000 m above sea level do not have increased hematological parameters (i.e., red cell number, hematocrit, hemoglobin content, and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate/hemoglobin ratio) and have a higher affinity of blood for oxygen as compared with acclimatized Caucasians. Sherpas permanently living at low altitude, on the contrary, have lower affinity of blood for oxygen than do Caucasians living at comparable altitude and are mildly "anemic,". Various other red cell biochemical parameters (possibly related to adaptation to altitude) have also been studied in the same population. We suggest that Sherpas are genetically better adapted to high altitude than are Amerindians living on the Peruvian highlands, possibly as a consequence of a much more prolonged exposure to such an ecological factor of selection as high altitude.