Abstract
Summary and Conclusion
Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed in a low pressure chamber 4 hours daily 0 to 30 days to a simulated altitude of 25,000 feet (bar. p. 282 mm Hg). During the following 12 days, they were given 8 intravenous injections of 5. mitis. Bacterial endocarditis was found in 87% of the rats acclimatized 30 days, but in only 44% if the exposures to altitude were discontinued after the first injection. It was found in 17% of rats never exposed to altitude, and in 45% of those beginning exposures to altitude immediately before their first injection. Endocarditis was found in 11 of 15 altitude rats given a single injection of S. jaecalis. The susceptibility to endocarditis in this study varied with the mean hematocrit value. Since the hematocrit value approaches a maximum in about 30 days, there seems to be little indication for increasing the preliminary exposures to altitude beyond 30 days. It is suggested that such altitude rats be used for screening of methods for the treatment of bacterial endocarditis in man.
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