E/A
1.59±0.1
0.74±
0.1
1.17±0.1
0.0
00
0.0
5
0.0
01
IVRT,
msec
69.9±2.4
106.5
±3.4
88.7±3.3
0.0
00
0.0
02
0.0
01
DT, msec
147±1.8
190±7
.5
170.9±5.7
0.0
00
0.0
04
0.0
51
Legend: E - transmitral flow in early diastole, A - transmitral flow in late diastole, IVRT -
isovolumic relaxation time, DT - deceleration time. Thus in HL with EH significant LVDD and
PH are observed. In HL with PH moderate LVDD is observed probably due to PH and
concomitant right ventricular systolic dysfunction.
118.
HEART WEIGHT LOSS AFTER HIGH ALTITUDE MOUNTAINEERING. Norihiro
Kmikomaki
1
, Osamu Nishioka
1
. Department of Circulation, Rosai Hospital for Silicosis, Tochigi,
Japan
1
.
Background: Many high mountain climbers lose body weight (BW) and develop muscle
atrophy. In this study, we examined the effect of climbing on heart weight (HW). Methods: We
measured the BW of four members (A-D) of Spantik (7027 m) expedition team and estimated the
HW before and after 43 days expedition with ultrasound cardiography. The estimated HW for
each individual represented the mean value of three determinations. Results: The BW before and
after the expedition were (member A) 60.0 and 57.5 kg, (B) 55.5 and 54.2 kg, (C) 64.0 and 59.0
kg, and (D) 44.5 and 45.5 kg, respectively. The mean HW measured before and after the
expedition were (A) 185 and 126 g, (B) 132 and 120 g, (C) 196 and 150 g, and (D) 125 and 104
g, respectively. Conclusions: The BW of all but member (D) decreased after mountain climbing.
Member (D) suffered from oliguria and extensive edema after descent to the base camp, which
could explain the slight gain in BW. The mean values of three-times measured HW of all
members except (B) significantly decreased after climbing, although the decrease in the mean
value of three-times measured HW of each member was not significant (P=0.0517). HW loss is
probably due to high altitude and acclimatization. It is possible that at high altitude, climbers lose
significant amounts of adipose tissue and muscles including cardiac muscles because of
malnutrition caused by dysfunction of the gastrointestinal system and ineffective use of energy
associated with tissue hypoxemia. On the other hand, endurance is important as it enhances
muscle thinning, thus shortening the oxygen transit time from the capillaries to the mitochondria.
We conclude that high altitude mountaineering could result in skeletal and cardiac muscle
atrophy.
119.
A HISTOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE RESPIRATORY ORGAN OF YAK. Toshihiko Kohno
1
,
Shigeru Masuyama
2
. Dept. Anatomy, Budo Univ., Katsuura, Japan
1
, Ryotokuji Gakuen, Tokyo,
Japan
2
.
We recently had an opportunity to remove the lungs of a yak (Bos. grunniens), an animal
living only at high altitude. Its lungs were studied morphologically. The Yak examined was a 12-
year-old female. This yak, an animal of the Bovidae family, had been reared in Khunde village in
a Himalayan district at an altitude of about 3,900m. The left lung was composed of 2 lobes, and
the right lung of 4 lobes (including one middle lobe). The lung tissue was relatively clear and
contained on macroscopic lesions. The bronchus was small in diameter relative to the body size.
Vital capacity seemed to be small. A 10% formalin solution was infused into the upper lobe of the
right lung via the trachea. The fixed lung was prepared into paraffin sections, and then subjected
to hematoxylin-eosin and Elastica van Gieson staining. Prior to electron microscopy, the sections
were fixed again in 2% glutaraldehyde and subjected to critical-point drying. When observed
under a light microscope, alveolar spaces were wide and the alveolar walls were thin, suggesting
pulmonary emphysema. However, elastic fibers were visible in the sections stained by the
Elastica van Gieson method more clearly, as compared those in human lungs. By scanning
