AIMTo observe the effects of acute hypoxia and adenosine on splenic T lymphocyte proliferation.

METHODSWistar rats were divided into control and hypoxic group, and the latter were exposed to hypoxia (5000 m simulated high altitude, 23 h/d). Three days later, spleen cells were collected and stimulated by 5.0 microg/ml and 2.5 microg/ml concanavalin A (ConA) to determine the splenocyte proliferation. The proliferation was also observed after addition of different amount of adenosine to culture medium.

RESULTSAcute hypoxia and adenosine had marked inhibitory effect on mitogenic response to Con A in splenic T cells, and the inhibitory effect induced by adenosine displayed concentration-dependent.

CONCLUSIONAcute hypoxia may impair the T cell function and adenosine could be involved in this process.