Adrenocortical responses to maximal exercise in moderate-altitude natives at 447 Torr

Serum hydrocortisone and aldosterone (Aldo) responses to maximal exercise were examined in six low-altitude natives (LAN) (373 m or less, aged 19-25 yr) and eight moderate-altitude natives (MAN) (1,830-2,200 m, aged 19-23 yr) at their residence (home) altitudes (740 and 587 Torr, respectively) and later in a hypobaric chamber at a simulated altitude of 4,270 m (447 Torr). After 2 days at their respective residence altitude and in the chamber, each subject exercised to voluntary exhaustion on the bicycle ergometer. Fluid intake was similar in both groups at all testing locations. Preexercise 24-h urinary Aldo was lower in both groups at 447 Torr but only significantly reduced in the LAN group. In general, the changes in maximum exercise cardiorespiratory variables were twice as large in LAN as in MAN subjects going from residence altitude to 447 Torr. Both serum hydrocortisone and Aldo concentrations were increased (P less than 0.01) after exercise in both groups at residence altitude and 447 Torr. Aldo was lower (P less than 0.05) postexercise at 447 Torr than at residence altitude in both groups, but this decrease was more pronounced (P less than 0.01) in the LAN group. Thus it appears that high-altitude Aldo concentrations are more like resident altitude values in MAN than in LAN subjects.