High altitude hypoxia on brain ultrastructure of rats and Hsp70 expression changes

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the biological significance of heat shock protein (HSP70) in adaptation to high altitude hypoxia.Methods: Ninety male SD rats were randomly divided into 10 groups: Acute plateau hypoxia group (group 5) and chronic high altitude hypoxia group (group 3), and control group (group 2).Changes in HSP gene and HSP protein expression in brain tissues of SD rats at different altitudes were determined by Western blot and conventional RT-PCR, while an optical and transmission electron microscope was used to observe the cell structure changes of animal brain tissues.Results: HSP70 expression rapidly increased at high altitudes in SD rats under high-altitude hypoxia environments, and HSP70 increased with altitude. Morphological and structural damage in SD rats in each group increased with altitude.Conclusion: The rapid synthesis of HSP70 in heat shock response is beneficial for maintaining the normal physiological function of cells during hypoxia stress, and the amount of HSP70 production is positively correlated with hypoxia tolerance ability.