CHRONIC HYPOXIA AND CHEMODECTOMAS IN BOVINES AT HIGH-ALTITUDES

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 100  (12) , 636-639
Abstract
A severe degree of hyperplasia of the chief cells occurs in bovine carotid bodies at high altitudes, compared to sea level. As a result, the carotid body from an animal at high altitudes is significantly heavier and larger than the carotid body from an animal at sea level (P < .001). In 8 of 20 (40%) animals at high altitudes, the hyperplastic reaction progressed to form chemodectomas. The findings suggest that neoplasia can result from chronic stimulation by a biologically essential environmental factor (atmospheric PO2) that acts pharmacologically on the target tissues (chief cells of the carotid body).