Altitude Stress

Abstract

Summary

1. Citric acid content (γ/g wet wt) of blood, diaphragm, duodenum, heart, kidney, liver, lung, and spleen was determined colorimetrically in the following groups of mice: (a) normal mice, (b) mice exposed to simulated altitude of 20,000 ft for 3 to 4 months, (c) mice given daily intraperitoneal injections of 1 mg cortisone acetate for 2 weeks, and (d) mice starved for 17 hours. 2. Mice of group (b) had 20–30% less tissue citrate than control mice. In group (c) there was no change in tissue citrate except in kidney, which increased, and in spleen, which decreased. Tissues from starved animals showed a significant increase in citrate in all tissues. Thus the change observed in group (b) cannot be correlated with cortisone injections nor with a reduced blood sugar level induced by inanition. 3. Altitude exposed mice are more susceptible to Sal. typhimurium infection than control mice.