RUI: Maternal/Fetal Adaptation to High Altitude

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Studies of high altitude adaptation have had a long and productive history in physical anthropology in order to understand the mechanisms by which human populations adapt to environmental stress. Yet, our understanding of the extent to which adaptation has been achieved and the processes involved remains fragmentary. The overall purpose of this research project is to determine whether populations longer resident at high altitude are better adapted than shorter resident groups as a result of their superior abilities to transport and/or extract oxygen from the blood. Because birth weights are reduced at high altitude and decreased birth weight is associated with increased infant mortality, an important criterion for assessing adaptation is the preservation of birth weight values associated with low mortality risk. Given the likelihood that persons have lived at high altitude for exceedingly short and long periods of time in Colorado and Tibet respectively, this project will study groups at the two locales. The study will examine the relationship between altitude and birth weight, birth weight and gestational age, and the causes of neonatal deaths. In addition, studies of maternal arterial oxygen content, uterine blood flow, and uterine oxygen delivery are proposed for the two sites. Study methods include the recording and comparison of birth weight, gestational age and other data obtained from birth and death certificates on approximately 110,000 births in Colorado and from approximately 8000 births in Tibet. The proposed study will be able to determine whether or not Tibetans are protected from altitude- associated fetal growth retardation and to identify the components of maternal oxygen transport involved.