[Effects of hypoxic acclimatization on myocardial contents of total protein, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of acute hypoxia and acute hypoxia after intermittent hypoxic acclimatization on myocardial contents of total protein, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in rats. METHOD: Myocardial contents of total protein, MDA and NO were investigated in rats after intermittent hypoxic acclimatization (simulated high altitude 3000 m and 5000 m, 4 h/d, 2 weeks respectively) and normal rats after they were exposed to hypoxia (simulated high altitude 8000 m) for 4 h. RESULT: Compared with normal control rats, the myocardial contents of total protein and NO in acute hypoxic rats were reduced significantly, and the myocardial content of MDA was increased significantly. After intermittent hypoxic acclimatization, the myocardial contents of total protein and NO of rats were significantly higher and the myocardial content of MDA was significantly lower compared with those in acute hypoxic rats. CONCLUSION: After intermittent hypoxic acclimatization, the myocardial contents of total protein and NO of rats were increased significantly and the content of myocardial MDA was decreased significantly. This is one of the biochemical mechanisms of hypoxic acclimatization of the heart.