Effect of hypoxia on the circulating levels of essential mineral elements in rats

Changes occurring in concentrations of certain trace metals and electrolyte s viz. chromium, copper, zinc, sodium, potassium, calcium, magenesium and c hloride in plasma of rats exposed to intermittent hypobaric hypoxia were ev aluated. Batches of Sprague-Dowley rats (12 in each group) were exposed for 1, 7,14 and 21 days to a simulated altitude 7620 in for 6 h per day and on e group of unexposed animals was kept as control. There was a significant r ise of 153% in plasma chromium levels of I day exposed group in comparison to the unexposed group which tends to normalise on subsequent exposure. The re was a gradual increase in plasma copper levels of 9.0, 28.21, 62.6 and 6 5.6 % respectively in 1,7,14 and 21 days exposed rats in comparison to unex posed rats. On the other hand plasma zinc levels were seen to be decreasing during entire exposure. Plasma sodium levels decreased initially in 1 and 7 day exposed rats and increased in later groups whereas plasma potassium l evels of exposed groups remained low in comparison to unexposed group. Chlo ride levels were found to be elevated in 14 and 21 day exposed groups. The plasma calcium and magnesium levels were higher in all exposed groups over unexposed groups. Changes in chromium, copper and zinc observed in the pres ent study during exposure to hypoxic stress may be responsible for the hype rglycemia and anorexia encountered during intial phase of high altitude acc limatisation.