Liver mitochondrial respiratory plasticity and oxygen uptake evoked by cobalt chloride in rats with low and high resistance to extreme hypobaric hypoxia.

High-altitude intolerance and consequently high-altitude sickness, is difficult to predict. Liver is an essential organ in glucose and lipid metabolism, and may play key role in the adaptation to high altitude. In response to extreme high altitude, mitochondrial respiration exhibits changes in substrate metabolism, mitochondrial electron transport chain activity, and respiratory coupling.