ADENOCORTICAL AND SYMPATHOADRENAL SYSTEMS, ENERGY METABOLISM SUBSTRATES IN HUMAN BLOOD DURING ONE-YEAR'S EXPOSURE IN HYPOBARIC HYPOXIC, HYPOKINESIA AND ISOLATION

Abstract

Year-long life on Antarctic scientific station Vostok was characterized by exposure to the physiologically important factors including hypobaric hypoxia (Р = 460 mm Hg) due to the location on the Central Ice Sheet, hypokinesia due to staying indoor most of the time because of very low temperatures outdoors, physical and social isolation from the world. The paper attempts to define which of these factors determined the human body stress-reaction and energy metabolism. Venous plasma samples were periodically gathered for analysis from 16 members of the 13th Soviet Antarctic expedition to the station Vostok in 1968. Members of the expedition were divided into 2 groups. One group was experimental, i.e. intermittently consumed anti-asthenia amino acid and vitamin supplements and psychoactive drugs, and the other was the placebo control. The investigation showed that in the course of the year-long existence in the extreme environment the averaged levels of 11-oxicorticosteroids and adrenergic compounds were elevated while the noradrenergic levels were at the bottom margins of their normal ranges. Averaged values of blood glucose and total cholesterol were well within the range of normal variations. Anti-asthenia supplements mitigated the chronic stress and did not disturb energy metabolism.