Effect of Decreased Atmospheric Pressure on Blood Volume of Rats

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Abstract
The effect on the total red cell volume, plasma volume and hemoglobin content in rats of reducing the barometric pressure to the equivalent of 15,000 ft. altitude for from 3-100 days has been studied. Fully acclimatized rats have been studied at 8000 ft., 15,000 ft. and 20,000 ft. equivalent altitudes. A marked increase in total red cell volume and total Hb was demonstrated. A steady state for total Hb and red cell volume /100 g. body wt. at 15,000 ft. was reached within 10 days of lowering the barometric pressure. The total plasma volume was reduced to the same extent by exposure to altitudes of 15,000 ft. and 20,000 ft. The rate of formation of new red cells was observed to be increased to 5.9 times normal during the development of acclimatization. It is unlikely that the observed rate of increase of total Hb would continue above 23,000 ft. because of the very large blood volume required.