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Objectives: Living at moderate altitudes and training at lower altitudes or at sea level is a well known training model for preparation to competitions. In our study we investigated the hemopietic parameters; Hb, Hct and plasma ferritin and the tissue levels of trace metals (Fe, Cu and Zn) which are closely related to those homopoietic parameters in liver and spleen of rats which are intermittently exposed to atmospheric pressure of 3000 m and swim trained at sea level.
Methods: 48 Wistar albino male rats randomly and equally divided into 4 groups: hypobaric exercise, hypobaric sedentary, normobaric exercise and normobaric sedentary group. Exercising rats performed swimming in a water tank for 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week for 9 weeks, hypobaric groups experienced their hypobaric exposures in a hypobaric chamber which has the atmospheric pressure of an altitude of 3000 m for 2 hours a day, 4 days a week for 9 weeks. In the tissue samples of the rats Fe, Cu and Zn assays were achieved by atomic absorption spectrofotometer and serum ferritin was determined by Active Ferritin Coated-Tube Immunoradiometric Assay (IRMA).
Results: Cu and Fe levels in tissues of liver and spleen were significantly lower in hypobaric groups compared to normobaric groups. Whereas the Hb level of hypobaric exercise group was significantly higher than normobaric exercise group, Hct level of this group was significantly higher than both normobaric groups. There were no significant diffrence in tissue levels of Zn and serum ferritin levels between the groups.
Conclusion: Results of our study suggests that Fe and Cu levels in a requirement and consumption context should be considered more carefully in a period of training which has intermittent hypobaric exposures.