International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Performance and Health in Cold Climate

Introduction. A long-standing investigations of respiratory function in newcomers and indigenes of the northern regions (Taimyrsry national region, Republic Sakha (Yakutia) allowed to put forward a hypothesis of the northern hypoxia. However, the mechanisms of its development, risk factors are not completely studied yet.

Purpose. To study oxygen transport system at human adaptation in the Far North.

Material and methods. A total of 828 males (474 –newcomers, 354-indigenes) 18-59 aged, living in the Far North from several days to more than 10 years have been examined. The oxygen transport blood function on content of some oxygen transporters (hemoglobin forms Hb-MtHb, SHb, OxyHb, Hb- HbA,HbF) were studied, forms and sizes of erythrocytes, hematocrit volume, erythrocyte damage index, HADH2 depending methhemoglobinreductase activity were estimated. Transcapillary exchange was studied based on capillary permeability and blood tolerance to heparin. Blood acid-basic state and gas content of capillary and venous blood have been examined, respiratory function and gas exchange have been assessed. The results were treated using CSS statistic programs.

Results. It was shown that oxygenation and pO2 in capillary blood didn’t differ greatly from the values in inhabitants of the middle latitudes and weren’t depended on age and duration of living in the North. The differences in venous blood such as decreased pO2 in 20 aged, in northerners 30-40 aged, after 10 years of living in the Far North in northerners 50 aged was observed. Venous-capillary difference of pO2 was greatly increased in northerners. Changes of capillary forms and sizes depending on northerners age have been revealed. In spite of a large volume of a cell, Hb content is decreased. Under the environmental pollutions it was marked an increased fetal Hb, inhibition of HADH2 – methhemoglobinreductase and accumulated oxydazed forms Hb (MtHb,SHb). High capillary permeability on the background of decreased reserve capacities as manifestation of a compensatory reaction, directed to improved O2 transport to tissues and cells was revealed

Conclusion. Development of hypoxia in the Far North is connected with some changes of oxygen transport system form changes of respiratory function to tissue exchange. Tissue hypoxia is considered to be a limiting factor at human adaptation in the Far North.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)