[Effect of adaptation to the altitude hypoxia on catecholamine metabolism in rats with spontaneous hereditary hypertension].

An increase in the noradrenaline concentration in the myocardium and vas deferens was revealed in 11- and 15-week-old spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR), this increase being less marked in 15-week-old SHR. On the contrary, catecholamine metabolic changes in the adrenals were more pronounced in 15-week-old SHR and consisted in an appreciable reduction of the content of noradrenaline and adrenalin. The concentration of noradrenaline was inversely proportional to the magnitude of arterial pressure. Adaptation to the daily 6-hour action of hypoxia (5000 m above sea level) by the 4th day prevents the development of hypertension in SHR and related changes in catecholamine metabolism in the adrenals.