Abstract

Cortisol plasma concentration, volume of distribution, metabolic clearance rate and the fractional turnover rate constants have been studied in young male sea level natives before and during exposure to 4300 m of altitude. The second day of stay at high altitude the mean plasma cortisol concentration increased from 9.9 ±0.6 to 15.5±3.1 μg/100 ml (p<0.05). The estimated metabolic clearance rate was not significantly altered: 239.5±22.7 1/24 hr for sea level control vs. 259.7 ±15.8 1/24 hr during exposure to high altitude. The cortisol is distributed between 2 compartments; the second compartment decreases during exposure to high altitude from 11.7 ±1.5 to 7.1 ±1.01 (p <0.02). This decrease may be partially explained as a consequence of contraction in the extracellular space.

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