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Acclimatization to altitude involves an increase in the acute hypoxic ventilatory response (AHVR). Because low-dose dopamine decreases AHVR and domperidone increases AHVR, the increase in AHVR at altitude may be generated by a decrease in peripheral dopaminergic activity. The AHVR of nine subjects was determined with and without a prior period of 8 h of isocapnic hypoxia under each of three pharmacological conditions: 1) control, with no drug administered; 2) dopamine (3 microg. min-1. kg-1); and 3) domperidone (Motilin, 40 mg). AHVR increased after hypoxia (P = 0. 001). Dopamine decreased (P = 0.01), and domperidone increased (P = 0.005) AHVR. The effect of both drugs on AHVR appeared larger after hypoxia, an observation supported by a significant interaction between prior hypoxia and drug in the analysis of variance (P = 0. 05). Although the increased effect of domperidone after hypoxia of 0. 40 l. min-1. %saturation-1 [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.11 to 0. 92 l. min-1. %-1] did not reach significance, the lower limit for this confidence interval suggests that little of the increase in AHVR after sustained hypoxia was brought about by a decrease in peripheral dopaminergic inhibition.

Original publication

DOI

10.1152/jappl.1999.86.1.222

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Appl Physiol (1985)

Publication Date

01/1999

Volume

86

Pages

222 - 229

Keywords

Acclimatization, Adult, Altitude, Carbon Dioxide, Domperidone, Dopamine, Dopamine Antagonists, Female, Humans, Hypoxia, Male, Respiratory Mechanics