Effects of altitude and duration of different hypoxia exposure on HIF-1α in the rat brain, lung and heart tissues

Abstract

Objective: To explore the effects of hypoxic at different altitude and duration on the expression of HIF-1α in the rat tissues.Methods: A total of 72 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=12 in each group): normoxic group and 5 experimental groups. Normoxia group was placed in the normal circumstances of Lanzhou (1500 m altitude), rats in the experimental groups were exposed to hypoxia in the hypobaric hypoxic animal experiment chamber simulating the altitudes of 3000, 4500, 6000, 7500, and 8000 m for 12 h, respectively. HE staining was conducted to observe the pathological changes of hippocampus tissues and the expression of HIF-1α in the rat brain, lung and heart tissues under the condition of hypoxia was detected by RT-PCR and Western Blotting. A total of 72 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n =12 in each group): normoxic group and 5 experimental groups.Rats in the experimental groups were exposed to hypoxia in the hypobaric hypoxic animal experiment chamber simulating the altitudes of 7500 m for 6, 12, 24, 36 and 72 h, respectively. Detect the same indicator after dissection.Results: We demonstrated that with the increased of hypoxia altitude and prolonged hypoxia, the expression of HIF-1α in the rat showed rising tendency (P<0.05) and the severe damage was revealed by pathological biopsy.Conclusion: We conclude that the expression of HIF1α in the rat was enslaved to the different altitude and duration of altitude hypoxia exposure.