Long-term ventilatory adaptation and ventilatory response to hypoxia in plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae): role of nNOS and dopamine.

We assessed ventilatory patterns and ventilatory responses to hypoxia (HVR) in high-altitude (HA) plateau pikas, repetitively exposed to hypoxic burrows, and control rats. We evaluated the role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and dopamine by using S-methyl-l-thiocitrulline (SMTC) inhibitor and haloperidol antagonist, respectively. Ventilation (Vi) was measured using a whole body plethysmograph in conscious pikas (n = 9) and low-altitude (LA) rats (n = 7) at different Pi(O(2)) (56, 80, 111, 150, and 186 mmHg) and in HA acclimatized rats (n = 9, 8 days at 4,600 m) at two different Pi(O(2)) (56 and 80 mmHg). The effects of NaCl, SMTC, and haloperidol on ventilatory patterns were assessed in pikas at Pi(O(2)) = 56 and 80 mmHg. We observed a main species effect with larger Vi, tidal volume (VT), inspiratory time/total time (T(i)/T(tot)), and a lower expiratory time in pikas than in LA rats. Pikas had also a larger VT and lower respiratory frequency compared with HA rats in hypoxia. HVR of pikas and rats were not statistically different. In pikas, SMTC induced a significant increase in Vi and VT for a Pi(O(2)) of 56 mmHg, but had no effect for a PiO(2) of 80 mmHg, i.e., the living altitude of pikas. In pikas, haloperidol injection had no effect on any ventilatory parameter. Long-term ventilatory adaptation in pikas is mainly due to an improvement in respiratory pattern (VT and T(i)/T(tot)) with no significant improvement in HVR. The sensitivity to severe acute hypoxia in pikas seems to be regulated by a peripheral nNOS mechanism.