Caudwell Xtreme Everest Science Blogs Part 1

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An exciting new phase of Caudwell Xtreme Everest has well and truly begun!

Recently, members of the Oxygen Utilisation Team met in Archway to discuss the results emerging from the CPEX and magnetic resonance studies, and believe me, it?s exciting stuff! In fact, as one of the scientists involved in this extraordinary project over the past few years, I would say that the thrill from finally seeing the answers to some of our questions is almost as exhilarating as if I had climbed Everest myself.

The CPEX exercise bike tests will be fondly remembered by all of the trekkers and climbers involved in the expedition I?m sure, but in addition, a smaller group of trekkers and climbers visited the Oxford Centre for Magnetic Resonance before and after the expedition and 5-6 months after return, where they had heart, brain and muscle scans. Here we used powerful magnets to directly measure levels of the high-energy molecules ATP and phosphocreatine, the end-products of the cell?s metabolism in these tissues, as well as the way the heart and muscle were functioning. Measuring the cell?s energy levels in this way, at rest and throughout a simple exercise test, can reveal a great deal about how our metabolic machinery might have adapted whilst at altitude to maintain energy levels and hence physiological function in the face of a limited oxygen supply.

The team crowded into one of the offices in Archway as Cameron Holloway presented the initial findings from the heart MR study, Lindsay Edwards showed the first skeletal muscle MR results and Denny Levett revealed the preliminary CPEX data from the climb team. As one striking result after another was presented to the group, a buzz of excitement built up around the room. Not only were we seeing the first signs that many of our theories were sound all along, but there were some fascinating unexpected results too.

Although the analysis is still far from complete, it is becoming apparent that adapting to hypoxia not only affects the way that our cells make and use energy, and in many more ways than we had predicted, but even the way that the heart itself functions. We?re looking forward to creating a real stir when we come to publish this work in the next year or so and will keep you all posted.

In the meantime, work in the lab continues afoot. In May, Denny and I will start to analyse the muscle samples taken from the Xtreme Team at Base Camp to look in detail at changes in the cell?s metabolic apparatus. We?re particularly interested in the mitochondria, the minute power houses of the cell and the ultimate destination for oxygen entering the body. Given the results coming out of other studies, we feel certain that we?ll see some dramatic changes in the mitochondria too.

This is as good an opportunity as any to thank the trekkers and climbers who volunteered for additional testing and were happy(ish) to come for early morning scans in Oxford. Thanks chaps!