ИСКУССТВЕННЫЙ ГИПОБИОЗ КАК СПОСОБ ЗАЩИТЫ ОРГАНИЗМА В УСЛОВИЯХ ОСТРОЙ ГИПОБАРИЧЕСКОЙ ГИПОКСИИ

Abstract

Introduction: While reaching ever new heights mankind met an altitude illness. A critical stage of altitude sickness, manifesting by loss of consciousness, convulsions, apnea and subsequent death, develops at above 7 km altitudes. Pilots, alpinists and extreme sportsmen are the main risk group. Acute oxygen starvation of body while significant hypobaric hypoxia is the main mechanism of altitude illness. It is proposed to reduce the level of metabolism (artificial hypobiosis) to prevent the negative impact of acute hypobaric hypoxia. The study goal to assess the efficiency of organism negative impact prevention with metabolic rate reduction while acute hypobaric hypoxia. Materials and methods: Syrian hamsters, 90–110 g weight were used in the study. 2 groups, 8 animals in each. Experimental group of animals had intramuscular injections of 1 ml 0.9% NaCl containing 1 g/kg Methyldop (CAS Number 555-30-6) in 0.3 ml/kg dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) suspension. Control group of animals had 1 ml 0.9% NaCl containing 0.3 ml/kg DMSO. 3 hours later animals had been placed in hypobaric chamber. 20 kPa under pressure was created, speed – 1.25 kPa/s. Continuous chamber air flow was made to avoid CO2 accumulation. Continuous visual observation carried out. Consciousness, posture maintenance time, convulsive seizures, agonal breathing, and apnea were registered. Results: Control group: since start of exposure the average animal posture maintenance time was 3 s (standard error (SE) – 4 s). First convulsion time – 20 s (SE – 8 s), second convulsion – 56 s (SE – 14 s), agonal breath type start (6 animals) – 52 s (SE – 20 s), apnea – 1 min 54 s (SE – 1 min 8 s). It was consciousness absence in all animal. Experimental group: none of registered parameters were observed. All animals had consciousness, actively restored their position, while chamber was tilted. The exposure lasted for 20 minutes. Conclusions: Metabolic rate reduction has high efficiency for organism negative impact prevention while acute hypobaric hypoxia.