1. To assess the effects of acute exposure to high altitude on barorec
eptor function in man we evaluated the effects of baroreceptor activat
ion on R-R interval and blood pressure control at high altitude. We me
asured the low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) components in R-
R, non-invasive blood pressure and skin blood flow, and the effect of
baroreceptor modulation by 0.1-Hz sinusoidal neck suction. Ten healthy
sea-level natives and three high-altitude native, longterm sea-level
residents were evaluated at sea level, upon arrival at 4970 m and 1 we
ek later. 2. Compared with sea level, acute high altitude decreased R-
R and increased blood pressure in all subjects [sea-level natives: R-R
from 1002+/-45 to 775+/-57 ms, systolic blood pressure from 130+/-3 t
o 150+/-8 mmHg; high-altitude natives: R-R from 809+/-116 to 749+/-47
ms, systolic blood pressure from 110+/-12 to 125+/-11 mmHg (P < 0.05 f
or all)]. One week later systolic blood pressure was similar to values
at sea level in all subjects, whereas R-R remained elevated in sealev
el natives. The low-frequency power in R-R and systolic blood pressure
increased in sea-level natives [R-R-Lf from 47 +/- 8 to 65 +/- 10% (P
< 0.05), systolic blood pressure-if from 1.7 +/- 0.3 to 2.6 +/- 0.4 I
n-mm Hg-2 (P < 0.05)], but not in high-altitude natives (R-R-LF from 3
2 +/- 13 to 38 +/- 19%, systolic blood pressure-if from 1.9 +/- 0.5 to
1.7 +/- 0.8 In-mmHg(2)). The R-R-HF decreased in sealevel natives but
not in high-altitude natives, and no changes occurred in systolic blo
od pressure-HF. These changes remained evident I week later. Skin bloo
d flow variability and its spectral components decreased markedly at h
igh altitude in sea-level natives but showed no changes in high-altitu
de natives. Neck suction significantly increased the R-R- and systolic
blood pressure-LF in all subjects at both sea level and high altitude
. 3. High altitude induces sympathetic activation in sea-level natives
which is partially counteracted by active baroreflex. Despite long-te
rm acclimatization at sea level, high-altitude natives also maintain a
ctive baroreflex at high altitude but with lower sympathetic activatio
n, indicating a persisting high-altitude adaptation which may be gener
ic or due to baroreflex activity not completely lost by at least 1 yea
r's sea-level residence.