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Permanent alveolar remodeling induced by high altitude (HA) residence during maturation
Author(s) -
Ravikumar Priya,
Bellotto Dennis J.,
Hsia Connie C.W.,
Johnson Robert L.
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a949
To examine long‐term structural adaptation induced by high altitude (HA) residence when animals return to sea level (SL) before maturity, we raised litter‐matched male foxhounds at 3,800m altitude or SL (n=6 each, 25.0±2.2kg) from age 2.5 to 7.5 mo. Three year after return to SL, lungs were fixed at 25cmH 2 O airway pressure for morphometry. τ hb =mean harmonic thickness of diffusion barrier. ±SD. ∗p ≤ 0.05 vs. SL by ANOVA.In the HA group compared to SL controls, lung volume was higher due to larger volumes of alveolar ducts and alveolar sacs with no change in septal tissue volume or surface areas. The arithmetic septal thickness was unchanged while τ hb was lower. We conclude that 5 mo of HA exposure during maturation induced permanent alveolar remodeling. Supported by: NHLBI RO1‐HL40070, 54060, 62873 and 45716