Age and altitude tolerance in rats: temperature, plasma enzymes, and corticosterone

Tolerance to a 4-h altitude exposure (6,096-8,230 m) was determined in immature, young, and old male rats. The critical survival thresholds were 8,230 m for immature rats and 7,620 m for young and old rats. Hypothermia in immature rats was directly related to hypoxic severity. Body weight loss, elevated plasma corticosterone concentration, and a mean body temperature of 32.5 degrees C were characteristics of immature rats that survived at the critical threshold. Body temperature, weight change, and plasma corticosterone concentration were similar at all altitudes in young adult and old rats. Plasma enzyme activities were relatively unchanged in immature rats, but aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) and lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) activities in old rats, in addition to fructose-diphosphate aldolase (EC 4.1.2.13) activity in young adults, were initially elevated (P less than 0.05) at the critical survival threshold (7,620 m). Body temperature and plasma corticosterone (but not plasma enzyme activities) are important criteria for determining altitude tolerance of immature rats. However, plasma asparatate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities are more suitable criteria for assessing tolerance in young adult and old rats.