Received August 21, 2006
Revised October 10, 2006
Accepted after revision November 15, 2006

¹ University of Leeds
² Institute for Cardiovascular Research
³ Department of Physiology, University of Toronto and Department of Anaesthesia, Toronto
⁴ Department of Neurology, Yehuleshet Higher Clinic, University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
⁵ Department of Medicine, University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
⁶ Department of Physiology, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
⁷ New Mexico Health Enhancement and Marathon Clinics (NMHEMC) Research Foundation, Albuquerque, NM, US

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: giosuegulli{at}yahoo.it.

	Abstract

This report is a comparison of orthostatic tolerance and autonomic function in 3 groups of high altitude dwellers: Andeans with and without Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS) and healthy Ethiopians. Results are compared to those from healthy sea-level residents. The aim was to determine whether different high altitude populations adapted differently to the prevailing hypobaric hypoxia. Orthostatic tolerance was assessed using a test involving head-up tilt (HUT) and graded lower-body suction. This was performed at the subjects’ resident altitude. Blood pressure (Portapres) and RR interval (ECG) were recorded during the test and spectral and cross-spectral analyses of heart period and systolic blood pressure time series were performed using data obtained both while supine and during HUT. The transfer function gain in the Low Frequency range (LF 0.1 Hz) at the point of maximal coherence was used as a measure of cardiac baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). As previously reported, Peruvians displayed an unusually good orthostatic tolerance, while Ethiopians showed an orthostatic tolerance comparable to that of healthy sea level residents. There were no significant differences between groups in the supine values of the spectral analysis results. HUT induced the expected changes in Ethiopians (an increase in the LF components and a decrease in the respiratory components) but not in Andeans. Cross-spectral analysis showed abnormal results from all groups of high altitude dwellers. These results indicate that Ethiopians, but not Peruvians, behave similarly to sea-level residents in terms of orthostatic tolerance and autonomic responses to orthostatic stress, as assessed from spectral analyses, and this indicates good adaptation to their environment. However, in all the high altitude groups the results of cross-spectral analysis were atypical, suggesting some degree of impairment in baroreflex function.

Key Words: Autonomic nervous system, Baroreceptor, Hypoxia

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