Evaluation of blood indexes in rats under natural environment of chronic high altitude hypotension and hypoxia

Abstract

Background The plateau area has the environmental characteristics of low pressure and hypoxia, and the special geographical environmental characteristics have an impact on multiple systems of the body. The purpose of this study was to explore the changes in blood indicators of rats in a natural environment of low pressure and hypoxia on the plateau. Methods Twenty male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats aged 4 weeks were selected and transported to Chengdu area (approximately 450 m above sea level, 10 rats) and Yushu area (approximately 3800 m above sea level,10 rats) in two groups. They were defined as plain group and plateau group, respectively. They were raised to 28 weeks of age, and then transported to the plateau medical laboratory of Qinghai University. Blood index data were measured and the data of the two groups were statistically analyzed. Results 1. RBC in plateau group was higher than that in plain group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05),Compared with the plain group, HGB, MCV, MCH, MCHC and RDW in the plateau group were significantly higher (P < 0.05).2. Compared with the plain group, WBC, LYMP, EO, LYMP% and EO% in the plateau group decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and ANC% increased significantly (P < 0.05), The ANC, MONO and BASO in the plateau group were lower than those in the plain group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05), The MONO% and BASO% in the plateau group were higher than those in the plain group, and the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). 3. In the platelet index, compared with the plain group, PLT in the plateau group was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), PDW, MRV, P-LCR were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and PCT in the plateau group was lower than that in the plain group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). 4. In blood biochemical indicators, compared with the plain group, AST, TBIL, IBIL, LDH in the plateau group decreased significantly (P < 0.05), CK in the plateau group increased significantly (P < 0.05), ALT, DBIL, Cr, TC in the plateau group decreased, with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05), and ALT/AST, ALP in the plateau group increased, with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). Conclusion 1. The indexes related to red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and some biochemical indexes in the blood of rats at high altitude have changed. 2. Under the high altitude low pressure and hypoxia environment, the oxygen carrying capacity of SD rats is improved, the resistance to disease may be reduced, the coagulation and hemostasis functions may be affected, and there is a risk of bleeding. The liver function, renal function, heart function and skeletal muscle energy metabolism may be affected. 3. This study can provide an experimental basis for the research on the pathogenesis of high altitude diseases from the perspective of blood.