[The relationship between respiratory system reactivity and neutrophil metabolism in hypoxia in persons subjected to ionizing radiation exposure].

The group of 18 men exposed to radiation during amelioration work in the Chernobyl NPP was examined in the course of adaptation to intermittent hypoxia (rebreathing technique during 10 days of three daily 5-7 min sessions with 15 min break). The starting level of ventilatory response to hypoxic stimulus (HVR) did not differ from the one in persons living in non-contaminated areas. This hypoxic training (HT) caused the increase of HVR, activity of NADPH-oxidase and cationic protein content in neutrophils as well as various changes in myeloperoxidase activity. The correlation between respiration reactivity and deviations in neutrophil metabolism under HT was found.