Increased serum haptoglobin following exposure to a hyperbaric environment

Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to a 19.2 atmospheres absolute helium environment with an oxygen partial pressure of 0.21 atmosphere for 3 h. Haptoglobin levels were measured on serum samples obtained 24 h before exposure and at intervals after decompression. Serum haptoglobin increased twofold within 24 h after decompression and remained elevated for at least 3 days.