Effects of mild hypoxia (2200 m) on catecholamine and corticosterone secretion.

In experiments carried out in male Wistar rats submitted in laboratory to a 2200-m depressurization the urinary noradrenaline and adrenaline elimination, as well as the plasma corticosterone level were investigated. In rats previously submitted 12 days only to the environmental stress the true depressurization (7 days) produced a relatively increased noradrenaline and adrenaline elimination. A similar increased catecholamine output was observed in rats submitted directly to hypoxia. The plasma corticosterone level was unmodified by hypoxia of the same value.