Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 49, Issue 3 374-379, Copyright © 1980 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Control of breathing in Sherpas at low and high altitude

P. H. Hackett, J. T. Reeves, C. D. Reeves, R. F. Grover and D. Rennie

Sherpas are well known for their physical performance at extreme altitudes, yet they are reported to have blunted ventilatory responses to acute hypoxia and relative hypoventilation in chronic hypoxia. To examine this paradox, we studied ventilatory control in Sherpas in comparison to that in Westerners at both low and high altitude. At low altitude, 25 Sherpas had higher minute ventilation, higher respiratory frequency, and lower end-tidal carbon dioxide tension than 25 Westerners. The hypoxic ventilatory response of Sherpas was found to be similar to that in Westerners, even though long altitude exposure had blunted the responses of some Sherpas. At high altitude, Sherpas again had higher minute ventilation and a tendency toward higher arterial oxygen saturation than Westerners. Oxygen administration increased ventilation further in Sherpas but decreased ventilation in Westerners. We conclude that Sherpas differ from other high-altitude natives; their hypoxic ventilatory response is not blunted, and they exhibit relative hyperventilation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Vargas, E. Vargas, C. G. Julian, J. F. Armaza, A. Rodriguez, W. Tellez, S. Niermeyer, M. Wilson, E. Parra, M. Shriver, et al. Determinants of blood oxygenation during pregnancy in Andean and European residents of high altitude Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2007; 293(3): R1303 - R1312. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. D. Brutsaert, E. J. Parra, M. D. Shriver, A. Gamboa, M. Rivera-Ch, and F. Leon-Velarde Ancestry explains the blunted ventilatory response to sustained hypoxia and lower exercise ventilation of Quechua altitude natives Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, July 1, 2005; 289(1): R225 - R234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Leon-Velarde, A. Gamboa, M. Rivera-Ch, J.-A. Palacios, and P. A. Robbins Plasticity in Respiratory Motor Control: Selected Contribution: Peripheral chemoreflex function in high-altitude natives and patients with chronic mountain sickness J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2003; 94(3): 1269 - 1278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. V. Weil, T. Stevens, C. K. Pickett, K. Tatsumi, M. G. Dickinson, C. R. Jacoby, and D. M. Rodman Strain-associated differences in hypoxic chemosensitivity of the carotid body in rats Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, May 1, 1998; 274(5): L767 - L774. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Vargas, F. Leon-Velarde, C. Monge-C., J.-A. Palacios, and P. A. Robbins Similar hypoxic ventilatory responses in sea-level natives and high-altitude Andean natives living at sea level J Appl Physiol, March 1, 1998; 84(3): 1024 - 1029. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. S. Curran, J. Zhuang, S. F. Sun, and L. G. Moore Ventilation and hypoxic ventilatory responsiveness in Chinese-Tibetan residents at 3,658 m J Appl Physiol, December 1, 1997; 83(6): 2098 - 2104. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]