Banchero N, Van Bui M, Smith S L
Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1987 Oct;186(1):36-40. doi: 10.3181/00379727-186-42580.
Weanling male guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), 2-3 weeks of age, with initial body weights of 207-271 g were exposed for 2-16 weeks to constant cold (6 degrees C) and hypoxia (PO2 = 85 Torr) equivalent to 4800 m above sea level. Their growth rates and body weights did not differ from those of control animals of the same age maintained under normoxic conditions (22 degrees C, PO2 = 133 Torr). After 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, or 16 weeks exposure the animals were sacrificed, the hearts were removed, the ventricles were separated and weighed, and myoglobin concentrations were determined. Total heart weight as well as both right and left ventricular weights increased linearly with age. By the second week of exposure of the guinea pigs to cold plus hypoxia the total heart and right ventricular weights were 25 and 50% greater than those of the normoxic control animals. Both weights increased at greater rates than those of the controls until Week 6 and then remained at 30 and 80% throughout the 16th week. The weights of the left ventricles in these animals were only slightly greater than those of the controls. In spite of the severe right ventricular hypertrophy these animals showed no clinical signs of right heart failure. Myoglobin concentrations were significantly greater in both ventricles for the cold-plus-hypoxic animals than for the controls.
2至3周龄、初始体重为207 - 271克的断乳雄性豚鼠（豚鼠属），在2至16周的时间里暴露于相当于海拔4800米的持续低温（6摄氏度）和低氧环境（PO2 = 85托）中。它们的生长速率和体重与在常氧条件（22摄氏度，PO2 = 133托）下饲养的同龄对照动物没有差异。在暴露2、3、4、6、10或16周后，处死动物，取出心脏，分离心室并称重，测定肌红蛋白浓度。心脏总重量以及右心室和左心室重量均随年龄呈线性增加。豚鼠暴露于低温加低氧环境的第二周，心脏总重量和右心室重量比常氧对照动物分别高出25%和50%。直到第6周，这两个重量的增加速率均高于对照组，然后在整个第16周保持在比对照组高30%和80%的水平。这些动物的左心室重量仅略高于对照组。尽管右心室严重肥大，但这些动物未表现出右心衰竭的临床症状。低温加低氧组动物的两个心室中的肌红蛋白浓度均显著高于对照组。
