Structural and Functional State of Leukocytes During Long-term Adaptation of Experimental Animals to the Climatic and Geographical Conditions of High Mountains

Abstract

This study presents the results of studies of the structural and functional state of leukocytes during long-term adaptation of experimental animals to high altitude conditions, obtained using the electron microscopic method of morphometry. It has been shown that under the influence of extreme factors of high altitude in the process of adaptation in experimental animals there is a statistically significant increase in the volume density of mitochondria and ribosomes in neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, which can be regarded as an indicator of activation of the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, activation of the biosynthesis of mitochondrial structures and increase energy production in white blood cells. The volumetric value of specific granules also increased. The volume density of vacuoles in all white blood cells by the 30th day of stay at altitude was statistically significantly reduced, however, in neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes, this indicator did not reach the values of animals in the control group. Thus, adaptation to high mountains has a certain training effect, the state of white blood cells under these conditions is a kind of marker of adaptive processes occurring in the body during the stay of humans and animals in high mountains.