Introduction: It is known that fertility of normal high altitude dwellers is similar to that at sea level. Objectives: To determine the hypophyso- gonadal reserve using a pulsatile methodology with low doses of GnRH. Design: Experimental, basic study. Setting: Instituto de Investigaciones Clinicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, and Laboratorio de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad San Antonio Abad, Cusco, Peru. Participants: Sea level and high altitude normal subjects. Interventions: Twelve normal male high altitude dwellers (Cusco, 3395 m.a.s.l.) and 12 subjects living at sea level (Lima, 150 m.a.s.l.) were submitted to an intermittent intravenous infusion of GnRH for 24 hours. Serum LH, FSH and testosterone concentrations were measured using RIA techniques. Main outcome measures: LH, FSH y testosterone concentrations. Results: LH, FSH and testosterone basal concentratio...

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of high altitude exposure time on the oxidation of proteins and lipids from guinea pig brain tissue. Fifty guinea pigs (sea level natives) were taken up to Morococha (4540 m) and sacrificed on days 1, 3, 7 and 14, after arrival. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity, levels of lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) and malondialdehyde (TBARS) were determined as markers of lipid oxidation. Carbonyl groups (CG) were also determined as markers of protein oxidation. Activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were also determined. PLA2 activity increased until third day. LOOH, TBARS and CG levels were found to be increased the first day; LOOH levels showed a declining trend but TBARS levels remained high, CG concentration decreased below the control group levels on the third day. The activities o...

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of high altitude exposure time on the oxidation of proteins and lipids from guinea pig brain tissue. Fifty guinea pigs (sea level natives) were taken up to Morococha (4540 m) and sacrificed on days 1, 3, 7 and 14, after arrival. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity, levels of lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) and malondialdehyde (TBARS) were determined as markers of lipid oxidation. Carbonyl groups (CG) were also determined as markers of protein oxidation. Activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were also determined. PLA2 activity increased until third day. LOOH, TBARS and CG levels were found to be increased the first day; LOOH levels showed a declining trend but TBARS levels remained high, CG concentration decreased below the control group levels on the third day. The activities o...