Respiration of liver slices from normal and altitude-acclimatized rats

¹ Biophysics Laboratories, Department of Zoology and Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

Analyses were made of the respiratory rates of liver tissue slices from normal rats and from rats continuously exposed to simulated altitudes of 21,000 ft. for periods varying from 1 to 56 days. Seventy-one rats were used. Oxygen uptake was measured in 100%, 20% and 1% oxygen. There was no difference in tissue respiration between the control and experimental animals, either with no added substrate or with glucose or succinate as added substrates. It was concluded from these data that alterations in cellular respiration do not constitute an important feature of altitude acclimatization.