Stan, a champion athlete, sleeps up in the mountains at 10,000 feet every night to increase his red blood cell count for better athletic performance. Which hormone increases to make that possible?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Erythropoietin is a hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells in bone marrow. High altitude environments with lower oxygen levels can cause the body to increase its production of erythropoietin to facilitate oxygen transport through the higher red blood cell count. This is commonly called "altitude training" and is used by athletes to improve their endurance and performance. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen, Rh factor is a type of protein found on red blood cells that can impact blood transfusions, and fibrin is a protein involved in blood clotting.

Stan, a Champion Athlete, Sleeps Up in the Mountains at 10,000