Effects of chronic hypoxia on behavioral and physiological parameters

Aging is a process accompanied by progressive susceptibility to disturbances and impairments in adaptability. The influence of age on the capacity to adapt to chronic normobaric hypoxia (10%) was studied in 4, 20 and 27 month old rats. Adaptation was measured for four days by food and fluid intake and spontaneous activity. In addition the values of the pO2, pCO2, pH-value, Na+ concentration and hematocrit were determined. The results show an initial marked decline for the three modalities of behavior in all age groups. While age-dependent differences were exhibited, for the adaptation course in nourishment and spontaneous activity, the values of the blood gases and hematocrit did not reveal age-related changes. Thus, physiological parameters and behavior are not consistent regarding the effects of age on adaptation capacity.