Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs
Publication Date
Summer 8-1-2023
Abstract
Environmental hypoxia, as a result of decreased barometric pressure upon ascent to high altitudes (>2500m) presents increased physiological demands compared to low altitudes. Competitive athletes, mountaineers, wildland firefighters, military personnel, miners, and outdoor enthusiasts commonly participate in, or are exposed to, forms of exercise or physical labor at moderate to high altitudes. Interestingly, however, the majority of research on intermittent hypoxic exposure is centered around hematological markers and the skeletal muscle cellular responses to exercise in hypoxic environments remain largely unknown. Two processes that are integral for maintenance of cellular health in skeletal muscle include autophagy and angiogenesis. We propose that exercise or physical labor in hypoxic environments may catalyze these processes, contributing to beneficial physiological and health adaptations. To test whether hypoxic exercise may upregulate these processes, we compared the skeletal muscle autophagic and angiogenic responses to 60-minutes of moderate intensity exercise in normoxia, hypobaric hypoxia, and duration matched seated passive rest in hypobaric hypoxia.
Keywords
hypoxia, high altitude, exercise, autophagy, angiogenesis
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Physical Education, Sports and Exercise Science
Level of Degree
Doctoral
Department Name
Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences
First Committee Member (Chair)
Dr. Christine Mermier
Second Committee Member
Dr. Michael Deyhle
Third Committee Member
Dr. James McCormick
Fourth Committee Member
Dr. Kusrt Escobar
Recommended Citation
Berkemeier, Quint Nikolas. "HIGH ALTITUDE EXERCISE, AUTOPHAGY, AND ANGIOGENESIS." (2023). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/educ_hess_etds/168
