Correlation between heat tolerance during exercise and maximum aerobic work capacity

Observation of the physiological responses during exercise in a hot environment and measurement of maximal work capacity were made on eight young male subjects, ages 20--22. Exercise was performed on a bicycle ergometer at a constant work load of 450 kg . m/min at a cycling rate of 50 rpm for 30 min in a climatic chamber at 30 degree C with 70% relative humidity. The maximum work capacity was measured by bicycle ergometer exercise. Heat tolerance during exercise was assessed by the magnitude of physiological strain expressed by the combination of relative rise in rectal temperature, relative water loss and relative salt loss. Heat load during exercise was calculated using metabolic rates at rest and during exercise, assuming heat loss through the respiratory tract to be 10 percent of metabolic rate. Fairly good correlations were found between the ratio of work done to maximum work capacity and rise in rectal temperature, ratio of body weight loss to body weight and heat tolerance during exercise. Close correlations were found among relative heat load during exercise and rise in rectal temperature, relative body weight loss and heat tolerance. Heat tolerance during exercise in a hot environment correlated well to capacity of heat dissipation and maximum work capacity.     

Effects of alternating exposure to cold and heat for 14 days on cold tolerance in winter

People are exposed to heat regularly due to their jobs or daily habits in cold winter, but few studies have reported whether parallel heat and cold exposure and diminish cold acclimation. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of alternating exposure to cold and heat on cold tolerance in eight young males. A daily acclimation program to cold and heat, which consisted of 2-h sitting at 10 °C air in the morning and 2-h running and rest at 30 °C air in the afternoon, was conducted for 14 consecutive days. Eight male subjects participated in a cold tolerance test (10 °C [ ± 0.3], 40%RH[ ± 3]) before (PRE) and after (POST) completing the alternating exposure program. During the cold tolerance test, subjects remained sitting upright on a chair for 60 min. Rectal temperature (T_re) was lower in POST than in PRE during the 60-min cold tolerance test (P = 0.027). During the cold tolerance test, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures in POST were lower than those in PRE (P = 0.006, P = 0.005, and P = 0.004). No significant differences in skin temperatures between PRE and POST were found for the cold tolerance test. There were no significant differences in energy expenditure during cold exposure between PRE and POST. Subjects felt less cold in POST than in PRE (P = 0.013) whereas there was no significant difference in overall thermal comfort between PRE and POST. These results suggest that cold adaptation can still occur in the presence of heat stress.     

A comparative study on sweating pattern and heat tolerance. A field study on residents of Okinawa in summer

We proposed a numerical index for evaluating human heat tolerance which is practically useful. The adaptive changes in heat tolerance of unacclimatized subjects during short-term heat acclimatization could be evaluated by this index. The present investigation was performed to examine whether or not our index can reflect effects on heat tolerance of a long-term acclimatization as seen in subtropical natives. Nineteen young male residents born and raised in Okinawa (subtropical zone), 18 male residents born in the Japan Main Islands (temperate zone) but moved to Okinawa and 25 male students in Kyoto (temperate zone) were chosen to be subjects. Their age were from 19 to 29 years. Sweating reaction was examined for 60 min in summer, by immersing legs in stirring water of 42°C by using a mobile climatic chamber of 30°C with 70 RH. Local sweat samples from the chest and back were collected at 15 min interval by the filter paper method. Sweating reaction of the residents born and raised in Okinawa was characterized by smaller volume of sweating and lower salt concentration in sweat, while the rise in rectal temperature and increase in heart rate differ less between the three groups. It is concluded that residents born and raised in Okinawa showed higher heat tolerance than the other two groups when assessed by our factorial index method.     

Heat tolerance in rats following administration of streptozotocin,glucose, insulin and glucose plus insulin

Rise in rectal temperature (T_re) and survival time was determined on exposure to 38°C in adult normoglycemic and diabetic (streptozotocin treated) rats and 1 h following glucose feeding or insulin administration or both, and in young rats with and without glucose feeding or insulin treatment. The heat tolerance of adult animals treated with streptozotocin and insulin plus glucose and of adult and young animals treated with glucose feeding or insulin was less than that of their respective normoglycemic controls. The rectal temperature on exposure to heat in the treated animals was significantly higher than that of controls in the adult, but not in young rats. Exposure to heat of the normoglycemic and glucose-fed animals resulted in a rise in blood glucose in the adults and a fall in the young. The already raised blood glucose level in the streptozotocin-treated animals rose further on exposure to heat. The rate of recovery of the blood glucose was not significantly altered by exposure of the animals to heat 60 min after administration of insulin or insulin plus glucose.     

Human thermoregulatory responses during prolonged walking in water at 25, 30 and 35°C

Eight healthy and physically well-trained male students exercised on a treadmill for 60 min while being immersed in water to the middle of the chest in a laboratory flowmill. The water velocity was adjusted so that the intensity of exercise correspond to 50% maximal oxygen uptake of each subject, and experiments were performed once at each of three water temperatures: 25, 30, 35°C, following a 30-min control period in air at 25°C, and on a treadmill in air at an ambient temperature of 25°C. Thermal states during rest and exercise were determined by measuring rectal and skin temperatures at various points, and mean skin temperatures were calculated. The intensity of exercise was monitored by measuring oxygen consumption, and heart rate was monitored as an indicator for cardiovascular function. At each water temperature, identical oxygen consumption levels were attained during exercise, indicating that no extra heat was produced by shivering at the lowest water temperature. The slight rise in rectal temperature during exercise was not influenced by the water temperature. The temperatures of skin exposed to air rose slightly during exercise at 25°C and 30°C water temperature and markedly at 35°C. The loss of body mass increased with water temperature indicating that both skin blood flow and sweating during exercise increased with the rise in water temperature. The rise in body temperature provided the thermoregulatory drive for the loss of the heat generated during exercise. Heart rate increased most during exercise in water at 35°C, most likely due to enhanced requirements for skin blood flow. Although such requirements were certainly smallest at 25°C water temperature, heart rate at this temperature was slightly higher than at 30°C suggesting reflex activation of sympathetic control by cold signals from the skin. There was a significantly greater increase in mean skin and rectal temperatures in subjects exercising on the treadmill in air, compared to those exercising in water at 25°C. Accepted: 22 May 1998     

Passive heat exposure leads to delayed increase in plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide in humans.

The effects of passive heat exposure on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were studied in six healthy men staying in a Finnish sauna at +92 degrees C for 20 min. Their rectal temperature increased by 0.4 degrees C, and evaporative water loss was 0.92 +/- 0.14 (SD) kg. Heart rate and systolic blood pressure increased significantly during the 20-min exposure. Serum osmolality and plasma arginine vasopressin levels increased during the exposure, then declined, and increased significantly again at 90-120 min. Plasma renin activity and aldosterone increased by two- to fourfold in 20 min. Plasma ANP levels rose from 13 +/- 7 to 39 +/- 15 ng/l at 60 min and to 41 +/- 13 ng/l at 120 min (P less than 0.01 for both). We conclude that transient increases in heart rate and systolic blood pressure or changes in blood volume as inferred from the weight loss do not contribute to the increased plasma ANP levels observed after the heat exposure. Instead, increased secretions of pressor hormones could explain the elevated plasma ANP levels observed after the thermal stress.     

The effects of two types of clothing on seasonal cold tolerance

This study investigated the effects of two types of clothing, leaving legs covered or uncovered, on seasonal cold tolerance in women. Experiments were carried out to compare cold tolerance at an ambient temperature (T _a) of 10° C in December between two groups of subjects, who wore either knee-length skirts (skirt group) or full-length trousers (trouser group) for 3 months from September to November. The main results are summarized as follows: rectal temperatures continued to fall for 40 min in the trouser group when the subjects were covered by a blanket, while it became stable in 30 min in the skirt group; rectal temperatures showed greater increases in the skirt group when the blanket was removed after 40 min exposure to T _a of 10° C; metabolic heat production was kept significantly lower in the skirt group when uncovered or covered by a blanket at T _a of 10° C; metabolic heat production was negatively correlated with mean skin temperature and was always higher in the trouser group when measured at the same mean skin temperature; in the uncovered condition diastolic blood pressure increased significantly in the trouser group but not in the skirt group. These results would suggest that the subjects who wore skirts for 3 months from September to November had improved their ability to tolerate the cold.     

Thermoregulatory stress during rest and exercise in heat in patients with a spinal cord injury

Twelve subjects with spinal cord injuries and four controls (all male) were exposed to heat while sitting at rest or working at each of three environmental temperatures, 30, 35 and 40 degrees C, with a relative humidity of 50%. Exercise was accomplished at a load of 50 W on a friction-braked cycle ergometer which was armcranked or pedalled. Functional electrical stimulation of the legs was provided to the subjects with quadriplegia and paraplegia to allow them to pedal a cycle ergometer. The data showed that individuals with quadriplegia had the poorest tolerance for heat. As an example, in this group, accomplishing armcrank ergometry while working at an environmental temperature of 40 degrees C resulted in an increase in aural temperature of 2 degrees C in 30 min. The aural temperature of individuals with paraplegia working for the same length of time under the same conditions rose approximately 1 degree C. There was virtually no change in the aural temperature in the control subjects.     

A role for gastrointestinal endotoxins in enhancement of heat tolerance by physical fitness

Sakurada, Sotaro, and J. Robert S. Hales. A role forgastrointestinal endotoxins in enhancement of heat tolerance by physical fitness. J. Appl. Physiol.84(1): 207-214, 1998.To further elucidate mechanisms underlyingthe higher heat tolerance of physically fit compared with sedentarypeople, we have investigated the possibility that endotoxins (ofgastrointestinal origin) act, as in the normal development of fever, toraise body temperature and therefore reduce heat tolerance. In aninitial series of experiments, five physically fit and four sedentarysheep were exposed twice at rest to an environment of 42/35°C(dry/wet bulb temperature). When animals were given normal saline iv,rectal temperature (T_re) rose at a significantly higherrate in sedentary than in fit animals; this confirms that heattolerance is improved by physical fitness. Treatment withiv indomethacin did not affect the rate of rise of T_re infit animals. In sedentary animals, however, T_re was loweredto approximate that of fit animals. Because indomethacin blocksprostaglandin pathways involved in endotoxin-induced fever, theindomethacin-induced improvement of heat tolerance of sedentary but notfit animals supports the contention that endotoxins play a role indetermining that difference in heat tolerance. In a second series ofexperiments, quantitative cardiovascular measurements were made byusing radioactive microspheres. Under normothermic conditions, bloodflows in the brain, ileum, and diaphragm were higher in fit than insedentary animals. During hyperthermia up to T_re of42°C (in a 42/39°C environment), fit compared with sedentary animals exhibited 1) a greaterincrease in cardiac output, 2) anincrease in blood flow through arteriovenous anastomoses to higher andbetter maintained levels, 3) lessreduction in blood flow to the ileum, and4) greater increase in blood flowsto the myocardium, turbinates, nasal mucosa, and respiratorymuscles. Endotoxins are likely to come from the gut lumen,because reduction of gut blood flow forms part of the normal responseto heat stress. We suggest that improvement of heat tolerance byphysical fitness is caused by a greater cardiovascular capacity thatpermits not only greater perfusion of heat-loss tissues but themaintenance of a better gastrointestinal tract blood supply, therebybetter maintaining the normal barrier to movement of endotoxins from gut lumen to plasma. Sedentary people, with their lower cardiovascular capacity, redistribute more blood flow away from the gut during environmentally induced hyperthermia, thus allowing endotoxin-induced fever to aggravate hyperthermia.

     

Circadian variations in psychophysiological responses to heat exposure and exercise

Ten healthy men were tested at 0600, 1200, 1800 and 2400 hours on different days at rest in a laboratory at room temperature followed by 1 h of heat exposure in a climatic chamber at 42 degrees C, 60% rh (50 min rest and 10 min exercise on a cycle ergometer at 50% VO2max). Heart rate, blood pressure, rectal temperature Tre, metabolic rate, number connection test, visual and auditory reaction time, flicker test and catecholamine excretion were measured. Heat exposure and exercise caused lower heart rate acceleration at 2400 hours than at 0600 and 1200 hours, the smallest increase of Tre at 1800 hours, and an increase in metabolic rate greater at 1200 than at 1800 hours. In the afternoon, when, according to the circadian rhythm, the body temperature is highest, the additional heat load produced the smallest physiological effects. Performance efficiency, after heat exposure combined with physical exercise, improved slightly, but diurnal variations did not show significant circadian rhythm.     

Physiological reaction of women during exercise and recovery, in a comfortable environment and a hot environment

Physiological reaction and oxygen intake during exercise and recovery were measured in fourteen young female Japanese during the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle at 25 degree C with 50% relative humidity and at 35 degree C with 50% relative humidity. Subjects, clad in bathing suits only, performed a bicycle ergometer exercise at a constant work load of 600 kg . m/min at a cycling rate of 50 rpm for 20 min and recovered while remaining on the bicycle ergometer for 40 min. The mean values of sweat volume and skin temperature were significantly greater at 35 degree C than at 25 degree C. It has been shown that heart rate and rectal temperature during exercise were slightly higher at 35 degree C than at 25 degree C, while those during recovery were significantly higher at 35 degree C than at 25 degree C. Oxygen intake, oxygen debt, and the fall in diastolic blood pressure after exercise were considerably greater at 35 degree C than at 25 degree C. The increase in oxygen intake in a hot environment might result from an increased metabolism due to higher body temperature and increased energy requirement for heat dissipation such as profuse sweating, higher heart rate, and increased ventilatory volume. The increase in oxygen debt in a hot environment might reflect the increased metabolism caused by higher body temperature and the increased production of lactic acid in the working muscle as a result of an insufficient blood supply to the muscle. The increases in sweat volume, oxygen intake during exercise, and oxygen debt in women in a hot environment were considerably smaller than corresponding values for men. The smaller increase in sweat volume in women in a hot environment could reflect a smaller oxygen intake and a more marked dilation of skin vessels in women than in men.     

Estrogen replacement in middle-aged women: thermoregulatory responses to exercise in the heat.

Thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and body fluid responses during exercise in the heat were tested in five middle-aged (48 +/- 2 yr) women before and after 14-23 days of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). The heat and exercise challenge consisted of a 40-min rest period followed by semirecumbent cycle exercise (approximately 40% maximal O2 uptake) for 60 min. At rest, the ambient temperature was elevated from a thermoneutral (dry bulb temperature 25 degrees C; wet bulb temperature 17.5 degrees C) to a warm humid (dry bulb temperature 36 degrees C; wet bulb temperature 27.5 degrees C) environment. Esophageal (Tes) and rectal (Tre) temperatures were measured to estimate body core temperature while arm blood flow and sweating rate were measured to assess the heat loss response. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were measured to evaluate the cardiovascular response. Blood samples were analyzed for hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin ([Hb]), plasma 17 beta-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), protein, and electrolyte concentrations. Plasma [E2] was significantly (P < 0.05) elevated by ERT without affecting the plasma [P4] levels. After ERT, Tes and Tre were significantly (P < 0.05) depressed by approximately 0.5 degrees C, and the Tes threshold for the onset of arm blood flow and sweating rate was significantly (P < 0.05) lower during exercise. After ERT, heart rate during exercise was significantly lower (P < 0.05) without notable variation in mean arterial pressure. Isotonic hemodilution occurred with ERT evident by significant (P < 0.05) reductions in Hct and [Hb], whereas plasma tonicity remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of daily and intermittent exposures on heat acclimation of women

Twelve women, who differed in physical condition and body size, were heat acclimated utilizing either a daily or intermittent (every 3rd day) exposure pattern in an environmental chamber. The women walked for 100 min at 5.2 km/h up a 2.5% grade on a motor-driven treadmill Climatic chamber conditions were 46.5°C T_a, 24.5°C T_wb ± 0.5°C. Although individual acclimation varied, significant reduction in heat strain was observed in all subjects, e.g., the ability to complete the assigned task with increasing ease, a decrease in working heart rate, a decrease in rectal temperature rise, a decrease in mean skin temperature, an increase in sweat rate, an increase in evaporative rate, and a decrease in heat storage. The pattern of heat exposures, daily or every third day, had no discernible effect on the rate of heat acclimation. The highly conditioned subjects showed less physiological strain, particularly during the first few heat exposures, and maintained some relative advantage throughout the series of 10 exposures. Body size, in the range studied, appeared to exert little influence on the amount of thermal strain.     

Eleven days of moderate exercise and heat exposure induces acclimation without significant HSP70 and apoptosis responses of lymphocytes in college-aged males

The purpose of this study was to assess whether a lymphocyte heat shock response and altered heat tolerance to ex vivo heat shock is evident during acclimation. We aimed to use flow cytometry to assess the CD3⁺CD4⁺ T lymphocyte cell subset. We further aimed to induce acclimation using moderately stressful daily exercise-heat exposures to achieve acclimation. Eleven healthy males underwent 11 days of heat acclimation. Subjects walked for 90 min (50 ± 8% VO_2max) on a treadmill (3.5 mph, 5% grade), in an environmental chamber (33°C, 30–50% relative humidity). Rectal temperature (°C), heart rate (in beats per minute), rating of perceived exertion , thermal ratings, hydration state, and sweat rate were measured during exercise and recovery. On days 1, 4, 7, 10, and 11, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from pre- and post-exercise blood samples. Intracellular and surface HSP70 (SPA-820PE, Stressgen, Assay Designs), and annexin V (ab14085, Abcam Inc.), as a marker of early apoptosis, were measured on CD3⁺ and CD4⁺ (sc-70624, sc-70670, Santa Cruz Biotechnology) gated lymphocytes. On day 10, subjects experienced 28 h of sleep loss. Heat acclimation was verified with decreased post-exercise rectal temperature, heart rate, and increased sweat rate on day 11, versus day 1. Heat acclimation was achieved in the absence of significant changes in intracellular HSP70 mean fluorescence intensity and percent of HSP70⁺ lymphocytes during acclimation. Furthermore, there was no increased cellular heat tolerance during secondary ex vivo heat shock of the lymphocytes acquired from subjects during acclimation. There was no effect of a mild sleep loss on any variable. We conclude that our protocol successfully induced physiological acclimation without induction of cellular heat shock responses in lymphocytes and that added mild sleep loss is not sufficient to induce a heat shock response.     

Thermoregulation at rest and during exercise in prepubertal boys

Thermal balance was studied in 11 boys, aged 10-12 years, with various values for maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), during two standardized sweating tests performed in a climatic chamber in randomized order. One of the tests consisted in a 90-min passive heat exposure [dry bulb temperature (Tdb) 45 degrees C] at rest. The second test was represented by a 60-min ergocycle exercise at 60% of individual VO2max (Tdb 20 degrees C). At rest, rectal temperature increased during heat exposure similar to observations made in adults, but the combined heat transfer coefficient reached higher values, reflecting greater radiative and convective heat gains in the children. Children also exhibited a greater increase in mean skin temperature, and a greater heat dissipation through sweating. Conversely, during the exercise sweating-test, although the increase in rectal temperature did not differ from that of adults for similar levels of exercise, evaporative heat loss was much lower in children, suggesting a greater radiative and convective heat loss due to the relatively greater body surface area. Thermophysiological reactions were not related to VO2max in children, in contrast to adults.     

Intracerebroventricular physostigmine enhances blood pressure and heat loss in running rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the stimulation of central cholinergic synapses in the regulation of heat loss in untrained rats during exercise. The animals were separated into two groups (exercise or rest) and tail skin temperature (T(tail)), core temperature and blood pressure were measured after injection of 2 microL of 5x10(-3) M physostigmine (Phy; n = 8) or 0.15 M NaCl solution (Sal; n = 8) into the lateral cerebral ventricle. Blood pressure was recorded by a catheter implanted into the abdominal aorta, T(tail) was measured using a thermistor taped to the tail and intraperitoneal temperature (T(b)) was recorded by telemetry. During exercise, Phy-treated rats had a higher increase in mean blood pressure (147 +/- 4 mmHg Phy vs. 121 +/- 3 mmHg Sal; P < 0.001) and higher T(tail) (26.4 +/- 1.0 degrees C Phy vs. 23.8 +/- 0.5 degrees C Sal; P < 0.05) that was closely related to the increase in systolic arterial pressure (r = 0.83; P < 0.001). In addition, Phy injection attenuated the exercise-induced increase in T(b) compared with controls without affecting running time. We conclude that the activation of central cholinergic synapses during exercise increases heat dissipation due to the higher increase in blood pressure.     

Seasonal variations of physiological responses to heat of subtropical and temperate natives

In an attempt to compare the physiological responses of subtropical natives to heat with those of temperate natives, seasonal variations in physiological responses to heat were observed in young male residents of Okinawa who were born and raised in Okinawa, subtropical zone (group O) and young male residents of Okinawa who were born and raised on the Japan mainland, temperate zone, but moved to Okinawa in less than two years (group M). In both seasons, group O showed less sweat loss, lower Na concentration in sweat, lower rise in rectal temperature and less increase in heart rate during heat exposure than group M. In both groups, greater sweat loss, lower Na concentration in sweat and lower rise in rectal temperature in summer than in winter were observed. Seasonal differences in Na concentration in sweat, rise in rectal temperature and increase in heart rate for group O were smaller than those for group M. It was assumed the efficiency of sweat for cooling the body for group O was better than that for group M, and heat tolerance for group O was superior to that for group M.     

Comparison of heat strain recovery in different anti-heat stress clothing ensembles after work to exhaustion

A hot environment combined with physically demanding tasks can subject workers to a higher risk of heat stress. A series of regulations and guidelines have been proposed to design appropriate anti-heat stress work uniform to reduce body heat strain. The present study aimed to examine heat strain recovery in different anti-heat stress clothing ensembles after work to exhaustion in the heat. 10 healthy males performed intermittent treadmill running/walking to exhaustion, followed by 30 min passive recovery sitting in a climatic chamber, which simulated the hot and humid outdoor environment (34 °C temperature, 60% relative humidity, 0.3 m/s air velocity, and 450 W/m² solar radiation). The participants took part in five wear trials in counter-balanced order, including Sportswear, CIC Uniform, NEW Uniform, ICEBANK Cooling Vest, and NEW Cooling Vest, which have different levels of cooling capacity. Core temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, sweat loss, ratings of perceived exertion, and thermal sensations were measured throughout the entire heat exposure period. Physiological heat strain indices, including the physiological strain index (PhSI) and the perceptual strain index (PeSI), were used as a yardstick to quantify and compare the rate of recovery. Significantly lower physiological strain was observed in the newly developed NEW Uniform and NEW Cooling Vest groups compared with the commonly worn CIC Uniform group during recovery. At the end of the recovery period, participants in NEW Cooling Vest achieved the highest recovery (42.18% in PhSI and 81.08% in PeSI), followed by ICEBANK Cooling Vest, Sportswear, NEW Uniform, and CIC Uniform. The cooling capacity of anti-heat stress clothing ensembles and the recovery time significantly affect the rate of recovery in PhSI and PeSI, which may benefit the industry by formulating the appropriate work–rest schedule by considering the clothing effect.     

Comparison of heat dissipation response between Malaysian and Japanese males during exercise in humid heat stress

This study investigated the differences in heat dissipation response to intense heat stress during exercise in hot and humid environments between tropical and temperate indigenes with matched physical characteristics. Ten Japanese (JP) and ten Malaysian (MY) males participated in this study. Subjects performed exercise for 60 min at 55% peak oxygen uptake in 32°C air with 70% relative humidity, followed by 30 min recovery. The increase in rectal temperature (T _re) was smaller in MY during exercise compared to JP. The local sweat rate and total body mass loss were similar in both groups. Both skin blood flow and mean skin temperature was lower in MY compared to JP. A significantly greater increase in hand skin temperature was observed in MY during exercise, which is attributable to heat loss due to the greater surface area to mass ratio and large number of arteriovenous anastomoses. Also, the smaller increase in T _re in MY may be explained by the presence of a significantly greater core–skin temperature gradient in MY than JP. The thermal gradient is also a major factor in increasing the convective heat transfer from core to skin as well as skin blood flow. It is concluded that the greater core–skin temperature gradient observed in MY is responsible for the smaller increase in T _re.     

Thermoregulatory responses to acute heat loads in the FOK rat

FOK is an inbred rat strain with a genotypic adaptation to hot environments. The present study investigated the mechanism of the high heat tolerance of the FOK rat. Male FOK and WKAH rats were used. They were loosely restrained and placed individually in a direct calorimeter with an ambient temperature of 24°C. Their hypothalamic temperature, evaporative and nonevaporative heat loss and heat production were measured. After thermal equilibrium had been attained, the rats were warmed for 30 min with a chronically implanted intraperitoneal electric heater(internal heating). At least 90 min after the heating, the jacket water temperature surrounding the calorimeter chamber was gradually raised from 24°C to 36°C in 80 min (external warming). During the internal heating, changes in the thermoregulatory parameters did not differ between the groups. During the external warming, the evaporative heat loss of the FOK rat was significantly greater than that of the WKAH rat, while changes in nonevaporative heat loss and heat production did not differ between the groups. The results suggest that in the FOK rat, the improved heat tolerance is attributable to an enhanced evaporative heat loss response, but not to a facilitation of nonevaporative heat loss or of metabolic depression. Received: 8 March 1999 / Accepted: 14 July 1999