Myoglobin Levels in Some Tissues from Wild Peruvian Rodents Native to High Altitude

Abstract

Studies on dogs (1) and guinea pigs (2) have shown increments in the myoglobin content of muscles of individuals from high altitude as compared with individuals from sea level. More recently, the same relation has been shown in man by the use of biopsy material (3), but there are no data on wild species living at high altitude. Since wild mammals often have a more vigorous life, and since they have adapted to altitude by mutation and selection over a much longer time span, their response may be quite different from the shorter term adaptation of man and domestic species. Thus, for example, an increase in blood hemoglobin is commonly seen in domestic animals and man during short term exposure to altitude, but the hemoglobin level in native species of mammals from high altitude is no higher than in those from sea level.” 2 This study surveys myoglobin levels in a series of wild mammals from the Peruvian altiplano, principally rodents, to provide some answers to this question. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE