II. Morphological Adaptations of Human Skeletal Muscle to Chronic Hypoxia*
Abstract
Muscle structural changes during typical mountaineering expeditions to the Himalayas were assessed by taking muscle biopsies from 14 mountaineers before and after their sojourn at high altitude (greater than 5000 m for over 8 weeks). M. vastus lateralis samples were analyzed morphometrically from electron micrographs. A significant reduction (-10%) of muscle cross-sectional area was found on CT scans of the thigh. Morphologically this loss in muscle mass appeared as a decrease in muscle fiber size mainly due to a loss of myofibrillar proteins. A loss of muscle oxidative capacity was also evident, as indicated by a decrease in the volume of muscle mitochondria (-25%). In contrast, the capillary network was mostly spared from catabolism. It is therefore concluded that oxygen availability to muscle mitochondria after prolonged high-altitude exposure in humans is improved due to an unchanged capillary network, supplying a reduced muscle oxidative capacity.
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Chronic hypoxia in healthy subjects induces a loss of muscle mass and decreased fibers' cross-sectional area and mitochondrial density, without affecting the capillary network.
“Chronic hypoxia in healthy subjects (implicated in altitude expeditions) induces a loss of muscle mass and decreased fibers’ CSA and mitochondrial density, without affecting the capillary network [65].”
From Main Pathogenic Mechanisms and Recent Advances in COPD Peripheral Skeletal Muscle Wasting (2023) · cites this paper as [65]
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“Chronic hypoxia in healthy subjects (implicated in altitude expeditions) induces a loss of muscle mass and decreased fibers’ CSA and mitochondrial density, without affecting the capillary network [65].”
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- Authors
- Hoppeler, H., Kleinert, E., Schlegel, C., Claassen, H., Howald, H., Kayar, S., & Cerretelli, P.
- Affiliations
- University of Bern (CH)
- Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM (CH)
- University of Geneva (CH)
- Venue
- International Journal of Sports Medicine
- Publisher
- Georg Thieme Verlag KG
- Published
- 1990-02
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- S 1
- Pages
- S3-S9
- ISSN
- 0172-4622 (ISSN-L)
- 1439-3964
- OpenAlex
- W2024277225
- Cited by
- 290
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 3.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › High Altitude and Hypoxia
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Keywords
- chronic hypoxia, high altitude, skeletal muscle morphology, muscle fiber size, mitochondrial volume, muscle oxidative capacity, capillary network, muscle cross-sectional area, mountaineering, vastus lateralis, Himalaya
- MeSH terms
- Acclimatization, Adult, Altitude, Hypoxia, Body Composition, Capillaries, Chronic Disease, Humans, Male, Mountaineering, Muscles
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