Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026
11:28
Analytical Techniques for Assaying Nitric Oxide Bioactivity
Published on: June 18, 2012
18.5K
Exhaled Nitric Oxide Changes During Acclimatization to High Altitude: A Descriptive Study.
Douglas T Summerfield1, Kirsten E Coffman2, Bryan J Taylor3
11 Critical Care and Aerospace Medicine , Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
High Altitude Medicine & Biology
|May 15, 2018
Summary
As individuals acclimatize to high altitude, exhaled nitric oxide (NO) levels decrease. These changes in NO play a role in regulating pulmonary vascular tone even after acclimatization.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Altitude Medicine
Background:
- High altitude exposure triggers physiological adaptations.
- Pulmonary vascular tone is significantly affected by altitude.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe changes in exhaled nitric oxide (PeNO) during high-altitude acclimatization.
- To compare PeNO levels between acclimatized and non-acclimatized individuals.
Main Methods:
- Measured partial pressures of exhaled nitric oxide (PeNO) in non-acclimatized and acclimatized subjects.
- Assessed systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2).
- Repeated measurements in the non-acclimatized group over 9 days.
Main Results:
- Initial PeNO levels were significantly higher in non-acclimatized subjects compared to acclimatized.
- PeNO levels decreased in non-acclimatized subjects over 9 days at altitude.
- Higher sPAP correlated with lower PeNO levels, but PeNO did not correlate with SaO2.
Conclusions:
- Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) levels decrease as individuals acclimatize to high altitude.
- PeNO levels remain relevant for pulmonary vascular tone regulation post-acclimatization.
Keywords:
acclimatizationexhaled nitric oxidehigh altitude populationssystolic pulmonary artery pressureMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway
6.3K
Nitric oxide (NO), an inorganic gas, acts as a potent second messenger in most animal and plant tissues. NO diffuses out of the cells that produce it and enters the neighboring cells to generate a downstream response. NO synthase (NOS) catalyzes NO production by the deamination of the amino acid arginine. There are three isoforms of NOS. Endothelial cells have endothelial NOS (eNOS), nerve and muscle cells have neuronal NOS (nNOS), and macrophages produce inducible NOS (iNOS) upon exposure...
6.3K
01:17Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation
3.7K
In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...
3.7K
03:14Oxidation Numbers
43.0K
In redox reactions, the transfer of electrons occurs between reacting species. Electron transfer is described by a hypothetical number called the oxidation number (or oxidation state). It represents the effective charge of an atom or element, which is assigned using a set of rules.
43.0K
01:22Eulerian and Lagrangian Flow Descriptions
2.0K
Fluid flow analysis is critical in many scientific and engineering disciplines, and two principal approaches are used to describe this flow: the Eulerian and Lagrangian methods. These methods offer different perspectives on monitoring and analyzing the motion of fluids, each with distinct advantages depending on the scenario.
The Eulerian method focuses on fixed points in space where fluid properties, such as velocity, pressure, and temperature, are observed as the fluid moves between these...
The Eulerian method focuses on fixed points in space where fluid properties, such as velocity, pressure, and temperature, are observed as the fluid moves between these...
2.0K
01:30Pleural Disorders: Types and Brief Description
719
The pleura is a vital part of the respiratory system. It's a double-layered membrane surrounding the lungs and lining the chest cavity. The two layers of the pleura are:
719
01:15Pyruvate Oxidation
169.2K
After glycolysis, the charged pyruvate molecules enter the mitochondria via active transport and undergo three enzymatic reactions. These reactions ensure that pyruvate can enter the next metabolic pathway so that energy stored in the pyruvate molecules can be harnessed by the cells.
First, the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase removes the carboxyl group from pyruvate and releases it as carbon dioxide. The stripped molecule is then oxidized and releases electrons, which are then picked up by NAD+...
First, the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase removes the carboxyl group from pyruvate and releases it as carbon dioxide. The stripped molecule is then oxidized and releases electrons, which are then picked up by NAD+...
169.2K