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Myoglobin distribution in the heart of growing rats exposed to a simulated altitude of 3500 m in their youth or born in the low pressure chamber

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Summary

Reynafarje's (1963) spectrophotometric method was modified for the study of myoglobin concentration in rat hearts. The influence of age and body weight was evaluated and the age was found to be better correlated with myoglobin concentration than the weight. The influence of simulated altitude of 3500 m was studied in animals exposed to hypoxia at the age of about 34 days and in animals born in the low pressure chamber. In the first group a higher myoglobin concentration was found but only in the right ventricle, together with unilateral hypertrophy, as compared with control animals. In the group of animals born at simulated altitude a severe cardiomegaly developed which was most pronounced in the right ventricle. The myoglobin concentration in the hearts from this group was unchanged in the right ventricle and was lower in the left ventricle and septum.

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Turek, Z., Ringnalda, B.E.M., Grandtner, M. et al. Myoglobin distribution in the heart of growing rats exposed to a simulated altitude of 3500 m in their youth or born in the low pressure chamber. Pflugers Arch. 340, 1–10 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00592192

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00592192

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