Seasonal changes in thermal responses of urban residents to cold exposure

To determine whether urban circumpolar residents show seasonal acclimatisation to cold, thermoregulatory responses and thermal perception during cold exposure were examined in young men during January-March (n=7) and August-September (n=8). Subjects were exposed for 24 h to 22 and to 10 degrees C. Rectal (T(rect)) and skin temperatures were measured throughout the exposure. Oxygen consumption (VO(2)), finger skin blood flow (Q(f)), shivering and cold (CDT) and warm detection thresholds (WDT) were assessed four times during the exposure. Ratings of thermal sensations, comfort and tolerance were recorded using subjective judgement scales at 1-h intervals. During winter, subjects had a significantly higher mean skin temperature at both 22 and 10 degrees C compared with summer. However, skin temperatures decreased more at 10 degrees C in winter and remained higher only in the trunk. Finger skin temperature was higher at 22 degrees C, but lower at 10 degrees C in the winter suggesting an enhanced cold-induced vasoconstriction. Similarly, Q(f) decreased more in winter. The cold detection threshold of the hand was shifted to a lower level in the cold, and more substantially in the winter, which was related to lower skin temperatures in winter. Thermal sensations showed only slight seasonal variation. The observed seasonal differences in thermal responses suggest increased preservation of heat especially in the peripheral areas in winter. Blunted vasomotor and skin temperature responses, which are typical for habituation to cold, were not observed in winter. Instead, the responses in winter resemble aggravated reactions of non-cold acclimatised subjects.     

Seasonal effects of sleep deprivation on thermoregulatory responses in a hot environment

Effects of sleep deprivation and season on thermoregulation during 60 min. of leg-bathing (water temperature of 42 degrees C, air temperature of 30 degrees C, and relative humidity of 70%) were studied in eight men who completed all 4 experiments for normal sleep and sleep deprivation in summer and winter. Rectal temperature (T(re)), skin temperature, total body sweating rate (M(sw-t)), local sweating rate on the back (M(sw-back)) and forearm (M(sw-forearm)), and skin blood flow on the back (SBF(back)) and forearm (SBF(forearm)) were measured. The changes in T(re) (DeltaT(re)) were smaller (P<0.05) for sleep deprivation than for normal sleep regardless of the season. This decrease in DeltaT(re) was significant only in summer (P<0.05). Mean skin temperature (T(mean of)(sk)) was higher (P<0.05) for sleep deprivation than for normal sleep regardless of the season. M(sw-t) was smaller (P<0.05) for sleep deprivation than for normal sleep regardless of season, although M(sw-back) and M(sw-forearm) were similar. SBF(back) and SBF(forearm) tended to be higher for sleep deprivation than normal sleep. The sensitivity of SBF to T(re) was higher (P<0.05) for sleep deprivation than for normal sleep. These data indicate that seasonal differences in thermoregulation were small because of morning time. Sleep deprivation increased dry heat loss and restrained T(re) rise, in spite of decreased sweating rate.     

Thermoregulatory responses to cold water at different times of day.

This study examined how time of day affects thermoregulation during cold-water immersion (CWI). It was hypothesized that the shivering and vasoconstrictor responses to CWI would differ at 0700 vs. 1500 because of lower initial core temperatures (T(core)) at 0700. Nine men were immersed (20 degrees C, 2 h) at 0700 and 1500 on 2 days. No differences (P > 0.05) between times were observed for metabolic heat production (M, 150 W. m(-2)), heat flow (250 W. m(-2)), mean skin temperature (T(sk), 21 degrees C), and the mean body temperature-change in M (DeltaM) relationship. Rectal temperature (T(re)) was higher (P < 0.05) before (Delta = 0.4 degrees C) and throughout CWI during 1500. The change in T(re) was greater (P < 0. 05) at 1500 (-1.4 degrees C) vs. 0700 (-1.2 degrees C), likely because of the higher T(re)-T(sk) gradient (0.3 degrees C) at 1500. These data indicate that shivering and vasoconstriction are not affected by time of day. These observations raise the possibility that CWI may increase the risk of hypothermia in the early morning because of a lower initial T(core).     

Influence of body heat content on hand function during prolonged cold exposures.

We examined the influence of 1) prior increase [preheating (PHT)], 2) increase throughout [heating (HT)], and 3) no increase [control (Con)] of body heat content (H(b)) on neuromuscular function and manual dexterity of the hands during a 130-min exposure to -20 degrees C (coldEx). Ten volunteers randomly underwent three passive coldEx, incorporating a 10-min moderate-exercise period at the 65th min while wearing a liquid conditioning garment (LCG) and military arctic clothing. In PHT, 50 degrees C water was circulated in the LCG before coldEx until core temperature was increased by 0.5 degrees C. In HT, participants regulated the inlet LCG water temperature throughout coldEx to subjective comfort, while the LCG was not operating in Con. Thermal comfort, rectal temperature, mean skin temperature, mean finger temperature (T(fing)), change in H(b) (DeltaH(b)), rate of body heat storage, Purdue pegboard test, finger tapping, handgrip, maximum voluntary contraction, and evoked twitch force of the first dorsal interosseus muscle were recorded. Results demonstrated that, unlike in HT and PHT, thermal comfort, rectal temperature, mean skin temperature, twitch force, maximum voluntary contraction, and finger tapping declined significantly in Con. In contrast, T(fing) and Purdue pegboard test remained constant only in HT. Generalized estimating equations demonstrated that DeltaH(b) and T(fing) were associated over time with hand function, whereas no significant association was detected for rate of body heat storage. It is concluded that increasing H(b) not only throughout but also before a coldEx is effective in maintaining hand function. In addition, we found that the best indicator of hand function is DeltaH(b) followed by T(fing).     

Wearing a cooling jacket during exercise reduces thermal strain and improves endurance exercise performance in a warm environment

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of wearing a cooling jacket on thermoregulatory responses and endurance exercise performance in a warm environment. Nine untrained male subjects cycled for 60 minutes at 60% Vo(2)max (Ex1) and then immediately exercised to exhaustion at 80% Vo(2)max (Ex2) in 32.0 +/- 0.2 degrees C and 70-80% relative humidity. Four separate conditions were set during exercise: no water intake (NW), water intake (W), wearing a cooling jacket (C) and the combination of C and W (C+W). Rectal temperatures (T(re)) before Ex1 were not different between the 4 conditions, whereas at the end of Ex1 T(re) of C+W was significantly lower than the C and W (p < 0.05). Mean skin temperature (T(sk)) was significantly lower in C and C+W than the NW and W during Ex1. Heart rate of C and C+W were significantly lower than the NW and W, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in C+W was lower than in the other conditions. Exercise time to exhaustion was significantly longer in C+W than in the other conditions (NW < W, C < C+W; p < 0.05), whereas T(re) at exhaustion was not different. Our results indicate that the combination of wearing a cooling jacket and water intake enhances exercise endurance performance in a warm environment because of a widened temperature margin before the critical limiting temperature is reached and also because of decreased thermoregulatory and cardiovascular strain.     

Cutaneous vasoconstrictor response to whole body skin cooling is altered by time of day.

To test for a diurnal difference in the vasoconstrictor control of the cutaneous circulation, we performed whole body skin cooling (water-perfused suits) at 0600 (AM) and 1600 (PM). After whole body skin temperature (T(sk)) was controlled at 35 degrees C for 10 min, it was progressively lowered to 32 degrees C over 18-20 min. Skin blood flow (SkBF) was monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry at three control sites and at a site that had been pretreated with bretylium by iontophoresis to block noradrenergic vasoconstriction. After whole body skin cooling, maximal cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was measured by locally warming the sites of SkBF measurement to 42 degrees C for 30 min. Before whole body skin cooling, sublingual temperature (T(or)) in the PM was significantly higher than that in the AM (P < 0.05), but CVC, expressed as a percentage of maximal CVC (%CVC(max)), was not statistically different between AM and PM. During whole body skin cooling, %CVC(max) levels at bretylium-treated sites in AM or PM were not significantly reduced from baseline. In the PM, %CVC(max) at control sites fell significantly at T(sk) of 34.3 +/- 0.01 degrees C and lower (P < 0.05). In contrast, in the AM %CVC(max) at control sites was not significantly reduced from baseline until T(sk) reached 32.3 +/- 0.01 degrees C and lower (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the decrease in %CVC(max) in the PM was significantly greater than that in AM at T(sk) of 33.3 +/- 0.01 degrees C and lower (P < 0.05). Integrative analysis of the CVC response with respect to both T(or) and T(sk) showed that the cutaneous vasoconstrictor response was shifted to higher internal temperatures in the PM. These findings suggest that during whole body skin cooling the reflex control of the cutaneous vasoconstrictor system is shifted to a higher internal temperature in the PM. Furthermore, the slope of the relationship between CVC and T(sk) is steeper in the PM compared with that in the AM.     

Physiological and subjective responses in the elderly when using floor heating and air conditioning systems

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a floor heating and air conditioning system on thermal responses of the elderly. Eight elderly men and eight university students sat for 90 minutes in a chair under the following 3 conditions: air conditioning system (A), floor heating system (F) and no heating system (C). The air temperature of sitting head height for condition A was 25 degrees C, and the maximum difference in vertical air temperature was 4 degrees C. The air and floor temperature for condition F were 21 and 29 degrees C, respectively. The air temperature for condition C was 15 degrees C. There were no significant differences in rectal temperature and mean skin temperature between condition A and F. Systolic blood pressure of the elderly men in condition C significantly increased compared to those in condition A and F. No significant differences in systolic blood pressure between condition A and F were found. The percentage of subjects who felt comfortable under condition F was higher than that of those under condition A in both age groups, though the differences between condition F and A was not significant. Relationships between thermal comfort and peripheral (e.g., instep, calf, hand) skin temperature, and the relationship between thermal comfort and leg thermal sensation were significant for both age groups. However, the back and chest skin temperature and back thermal sensation for the elderly, in contrast to that for the young, was not significantly related to thermal comfort. These findings suggested that thermal responses and physiological strain using the floor heating system did not significantly differ from that using the air conditioning system, regardless of the subject age and despite the fact that the air temperature with the floor heating system was lower. An increase in BP for elderly was observed under the condition in which the air temperature was 15 degrees C, and it was suggested that it was necessary for the elderly people to heat the room somehow in winter. Moreover, it is particularly important for elderly people to avoid a decrease in peripheral skin temperature, and maintain awareness of the warmth of peripheral areas, such as the leg, in order to ensure thermal comfort.     

Thermal sensation and comfort during exposure to local airflow to face or legs

The present study examined the contribution of local airflow temperature to thermal sensation and comfort in humans. Eight healthy male students were exposed to local airflow to their faces (summer condition) or legs (winter condition) for 30 minutes. Local airflow temperature (Tf) was maintained at 18 degrees C to 36 degrees C, and ambient temperature (Ta) was maintained at 17.4 degrees C to 31.4 degrees C. Each subject was exposed to 16 conditions chosen from the combination of Tf and Ta. Based on the results of multiple regression analysis, the standardized partial regression coefficient of Tf and Ta were determined to be 0.93 and 0.13 in the summer condition, and 0.71 and 0.36 in the winter condition at the end of the exposure. Also, thermal comfort was observed to depend closely on the interrelation between Tf and Ta. The present data suggested that local airflow temperature is an important thermal factor regarding thermal sensation and comfort.     

Effect of uniform and non-uniform skin temperature on thermal exchanges in water in humans

We investigated the effect of uniform (UST) and non-uniform (NUST) skin temperature on thermal exchanges during a 3-h water immersion in five male subjects wearing (NUST) or not wearing (UST) a water-perfused garment. UST was achieved by immersing the nude subject in water up to the neck. For each subject, the water temperature was adjusted to the critical temperature ( T(cw), 31.4 +/- 0.9 degrees C) or 3 degrees C below T(cw) ( T(cw) - 3). NUST was achieved by perfusing different segments of the perfused garment with water of different temperatures. The water temperature of the segment was independently adjusted according to the skin temperature distribution in cold air, the mean skin temperature being the same as the UST. At T(cw) and T(cw) - 3, changes in esophageal and mean skin temperatures were identical in UST and NUST conditions, but the skin temperature of the trunk was higher and that of the limb was lower in the NUST condition. Heat production and the overall skin heat flux at T(cw) were identical in the two conditions, but those at T(cw) - 3 were about 25% lower ( P < 0.05) in NUST than in UST conditions. At T(cw) - 3, the overall tissue insulation was 36% higher ( P < 0.05) in NUST than in UST conditions, mainly because of higher limb insulation. Thermogenesis due to shivering was lower by 62% ( P < 0.05) in NUST than in UST. We conclude that the NUST condition increased tissue insulation and suppressed shivering. This suggests that a high skin temperature of the trunk attenuates shivering in cold water and increases the ability to defend body temperature more economically in cold water.     

Influence of female reproductive hormones on local thermal control of skin blood flow.

Progesterone and estrogen modify thermoregulatory control such that, when both steroids are elevated, body temperature increases and the reflex thermoregulatory control of cutaneous vasodilation is shifted to higher internal temperatures. We hypothesized that the influence of these hormones would also include effects on local thermal control of skin blood flow. Experiments were conducted in women in high-hormone (HH) and low-hormone (LH) phases of oral contraceptive use. Skin blood flow was measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry, and local temperature (T(loc)) was controlled over 12 cm(2) around the sites of blood flow measurement. T(loc) was held at 32 degrees C for 10-15 min and was then decreased at one site from 32 to 20 degrees C in a ramp over 20 min. Next, T(loc) was increased from 32 to 42 degrees C in a ramp over 15 min at a separate site. Finally, T(loc) at both sites was held at 42 degrees C for 30 min to elicit maximum vasodilation; data for cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) are expressed relative to that maximum. Whole body skin temperature (T(sk)) was held at 34 degrees C throughout each study to minimize reflex effects from differences in T(sk) between experiments. Baseline CVC did not differ between phases [8.18 +/- 1.38 (LH) vs. 8. 41 +/- 1.31% of maximum (HH); P > 0.05]. The vasodilator response to local warming was augmented in HH (P < 0.05, ANOVA). For example, at T(loc) of 40-42 degrees C, CVC averaged 76.41 +/- 3.08% of maximum in HH and 67.71 +/- 4.43% of maximum in LH (P < 0.01 LH vs. HH). The vasoconstrictor response to local cooling was unaffected by phase (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that modifications in cutaneous vascular control by female steroid hormones include enhancement of the vasodilator response to local warming and are consistent with reports of the influence of estrogen to enhance nitric oxide-dependent vasodilator responses.     

Urban hypothermia: preferred temperature and thermal perception in old age.

A study of 17 elderly men and 13 young adults of similar body build and wearing equivalent clothing insulation (0.8 clo) showed that when given control over their environment the elderly preferred the same mean comfort temperature (22-23 degrees C) but manipulated ambient temperature much less precisely than the young. Slow adjustment of ambient temperature was related to some cases to a higher temperature-discrimination threshold. These findings suggest that both physiological and behavioural changes contribute to the increased vulnerability of old people in cold conditions.     

Seasonal variations of physiological characteristics and thermal sensation under identical thermal conditions

Seasonal variations of human thermal characteristics were inspected in thermal comfort and when constantly indoors. Metabolic rate, tympanic temperature, skin temperature, body fat, body weight and thermal sensation were measured under identical thermal conditions in a chamber over the course of one year. Experiments were carried out for each subject in both summer and winter. Six subjects were measured 35 times in summer and 45 times in winter. one subject was measured weekly for 14 months. Measurements for analyses were taken 40-60 min after entrance into the chamber. Results revealed the following. 1) For all subjects, the metabolic rate, tympanic temperature and body fat were lower in summer than in winter; thigh skin temperatures were higher in summer than in winter. The averaged individual ratio of seasonal difference was 11.9% for metabolic rate, 14.9% for body fat, 1.8% for thigh temperature and 0.53% for tympanic temperature. Seasonal differences of about 10% in metabolic rate were maintained in this study. 2) Seasonal variations of the variables were examined for phase relationships against the outdoor temperature. 2-1) Metabolic rate, thermal sensation, body weight and body fat changed in reverse phase, whereas skin temperature was in-phase. 2-2) Skin temperature lagged by about one month in both summer and winter. Body fat also lagged by about one month in summer, but corresponded to the phase in winter. Metabolic rates were also in-phase in winter but led about three months in summer. Thermal sensations lagged by about three months in winter but were in-phase in summer. Body weight was in-phase in summer and winter. 2-3) Summer disorders were observed particularly in seasonal variations of metabolic rates, tympanic temperature, skin temperatures, and thermal sensation, thereby suggesting that the effect of temperature exposure was altered by air-conditioner use.     

A cooling vest for working comfortably in a moderately hot environment

To alleviate worker's thermal discomfort in a moderately hot environment, a new cooling vest was designed and proposed in this paper. To investigate the effect of the cooling vest and to collect the knowledge for the design of comfortable cooling vest, subjective experiments were conducted. Two kinds of cooling vests, the new one and the commercially available one, were used for comparison. The new cooling vest had more insulation and its surface temperature was higher than the commercially available one. Experiments were performed in the climatic chamber where operative temperature was controlled at 30.2 degrees C and relative humidity was at 37% under still air. In addition, experiment without cooling vest was carried out as a control condition. The results obtained in these experiments were as follow: 1) By wearing both types of cooling vest, the whole body thermal sensation was closer to the neutral conditions than those without cooling vest. This effect was estimated to be equal to the 5.7 degrees C decrement of operative temperature. The subjects felt more comfortable with the cooling vest than without it. They felt more thermally acceptable than that without cooling vest. Wearing the cooling vest was useful to decrease the sweating sensation. 2) The local discomfort was observed when the local thermal sensation was "cool" approximately "cold" with the cooling vest. 3) The new cooling vest kept the skin temperature at chest at about 32.6 degrees C. On the other hand, by wearing the commercially available one, it lowered to about 31.1 degrees C. By wearing the new cooling vest, there was a tendency that local thermal sensation vote was higher and local comfort sensation vote was more comfortable than those of the condition wearing the commercially available one. It is important for the design of a comfortable cooling garment to prevent over-cool down from the body.     

A three-compartment thermometry model for the improved estimation of changes in body heat content

The aim of this study was to use whole body calorimetry to directly measure the change in body heat content (DeltaH(b)) during steady-state exercise and compare these values with those estimated using thermometry. The thermometry models tested were the traditional two-compartment model of "core" and "shell" temperatures, and a three-compartment model of "core," "muscle," and "shell" temperatures; with individual compartments within each model weighted for their relative influence upon DeltaH(b) by coefficients subject to a nonnegative and a sum-to-one constraint. Fifty-two participants performed 90 min of moderate-intensity exercise (40% of Vo(2 peak)) on a cycle ergometer in the Snellen air calorimeter, at regulated air temperatures of 24 degrees C or 30 degrees C and a relative humidity of either 30% or 60%. The "core" compartment was represented by temperatures measured in the esophagus (T(es)), rectum (T(re)), and aural canal (T(au)), while the "muscle" compartment was represented by regional muscle temperature measured in the vastus lateralis (T(vl)), triceps brachii (T(tb)), and upper trapezius (T(ut)). The "shell" compartment was represented by the weighted mean of 12 skin temperatures (T(sk)). The whole body calorimetry data were used to derive optimally fitting two- and three-compartment thermometry models. The traditional two-compartment model was found to be statistically biased, systematically underestimating DeltaH(b) by 15.5% (SD 31.3) at 24 degrees C and by 35.5% (SD 21.9) at 30 degrees C. The three-compartment model showed no such bias, yielding a more precise estimate of DeltaH(b) as evidenced by a mean estimation error of 1.1% (SD 29.5) at 24 degrees C and 5.4% (SD 30.0) at 30 degrees C with an adjusted R(2) of 0.48 and 0.51, respectively. It is concluded that a major source of error in the estimation of DeltaH(b) using the traditional two-compartment thermometry model is the lack of an expression independently representing the heat storage in muscle during exercise.     

The influence of outdoor thermal environment on young Japanese females

The influence of short wave solar radiation appears to be strong outdoors in summer, and the influence of airflow appears to be strong outdoors in winter. The purpose of this paper was to clarify the influence of the outdoor environment on young Japanese females. This research shows the relationship between the physiological and psychological responses of humans and the enhanced conduction-corrected modified effective temperature (ETFe). Subjective experiments were conducted in an outdoor environment. Subjects were exposed to the thermal environment in a standing posture. Air temperature, humidity, air velocity, short wave solar radiation, long wave radiation, ground surface temperature, sky factor, and the green solid angle were measured. The temperatures of skin exposed to the atmosphere and in contact with the ground were measured. Thermal sensation and thermal comfort were measured by means of rating the whole-body thermal sensation (cold–hot) and the whole body thermal comfort (comfortable–uncomfortable) on a linear scale. Linear rating scales are given for the hot (100) and cold (0), and comfortable (100) and uncomfortable (0) directions only. Arbitrary values of 0 and 100 were assigned to each endpoint, the reported values read in, and the entire length converted into a numerical value with an arbitrary scale of 100 to give a linear rating scale. The ETFe considered to report a neither hot nor cold, thermally neutral sensation of 50 was 35.9 °C, with 32.3 °C and 42.9 °C, respectively, corresponding to the low and high temperature ends of the ETFe considered to report a neither comfortable nor uncomfortable comfort value of 50. The mean skin temperature considered to report a neither hot nor cold, thermally neutral sensation of 50 was 33.3 °C, with 31.0 °C and 34.3 °C, respectively, corresponding to the low and high temperature ends of the mean skin temperature considered to report a neither comfortable nor uncomfortable comfort value of 50. The acceptability raised the mean skin temperature even for thermal environment conditions in which ETFe was high.     

Thermoregulatory responses to intermittent exercise are influenced by knit structure of underwear

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of knit structure in underwear on thermoregulatory responses. Underwear manufactured from 100% polypropylene fibres in five different knit structures (1-by-1 rib, fleece, fishnet, interlock, double-layer rib) was evaluated. All five underwear prototypes were tested as part of a prototype clothing system. Measured on a thermal manikin these clothing systems had total thermal resistances of 0.243, 0.268, 0.256, 0.248 and 0.250 m2.K.W-1, respectively (including a value for the thermal resistance of the ambient environment of 0.104 m2.K.W-1). Human testing was done on eight male subjects and took place at ambient temperature (Ta) = 5 degrees C, dew point temperature (Tdp) = -3.5 degrees C and air velocity (Va) = 0.32 m.s-1. The test comprised a repeated bout of 40-min cycle exercise (315 W.m-2; 52%, SD 4.9% maximal oxygen uptake) followed by 20 min of rest (62 W.m-2). The oxygen uptake, heart rate, oesophageal temperature, skin temperature, Ta, Tdp at the skin and in the ambient air, onset of sweating, evaporation rate, non-evaporated sweat accumulated in the clothing and total evaporative loss of mass were measured. Skin wettedness was calculated. The differences in knit structure of the underwear in the clothing systems resulted in significant differences in mean skin temperature, local and average skin wettedness, non-evaporated and evaporated sweat during the course of the intermittent exercise test. No differences were observed over this period in the core temperature measurements.     

Allometry of thermal limitation in the cephalopod Sepia officinalis

Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) routine metabolic rate was determined in response to acute thermal changes at a rate of 1 degrees C h(-1) for a variety of animal sizes (15-496 g wet mass, laboratory reared at 15 degrees C). In a thermal frame of 11 to 23 degrees C, oxygen consumption rates (MO(2), in mumol O(2) g(-1) min(-1)) were observed to rise with increasing temperature (T, in degrees C) and to decline with increasing body mass (m, in g), according to the formula: ln MO(2)=-3.3+0.0945T-0.215 ln m (R(2)=0.93). Outside the above thermal window, animals were not able to increase MO(2) at similar rates, indicating a beginning oxygen limitation of metabolism. Large animals (>100 g body mass) already displayed lower than expected MO(2) values at 8 and 26 degrees C, while smaller animals (15 g wet mass) were characterized by a wider thermal window (MO(2) values deviated from expected rates at 5 and 29 degrees C). Morphometric data of cuttlefish mantle skin area was obtained to discuss size - related effects of skin respiration potential on thermal tolerance. Cuttlefish growth was observed to be isometric, as constant 'Vogel numbers' of 4.2 indicated (animal body masses: 11 to 401 g). In the same mass range, specific mantle surface area declined three-fold from 10.7 (0.24) (means+/-SD) to 3.3 (0.52) cm(2) g(-1). Thus, increased thermal tolerance in smaller animals may be enabled by a higher skin respiration potential due to higher specific skin surface areas. An elevated fraction of MO(2) provided by means of skin respiration in small animals could relieve the cardiovascular system, which previously has been found a major limiting component during acute thermal stress in cuttlefish.     

Active recovery attenuates the fall in sweat rate but not cutaneous vascular conductance after supine exercise.

The purpose of this study was to identify whether baroreceptor unloading was responsible for less efficient heat loss responses (i.e., skin blood flow and sweat rate) previously reported during inactive compared with active recovery after upright cycle exercise (Carter R III, Wilson TE, Watenpaugh DE, Smith ML, and Crandall CG. J Appl Physiol 93: 1918-1929, 2002). Eight healthy adults performed two 15-min bouts of supine cycle exercise followed by inactive or active (no-load pedaling) supine recovery. Core temperature (T(core)), mean skin temperature (T(sk)), heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), thoracic impedance, central venous pressure (n = 4), cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC; laser-Doppler flux/MAP expressed as percentage of maximal vasodilation), and sweat rate were measured throughout exercise and during 5 min of recovery. Exercise bouts were similar in power output, heart rate, T(core), and T(sk). Baroreceptor loading and thermal status were similar during trials because MAP (90 +/- 4, 88 +/- 4 mmHg), thoracic impedance (29 +/- 1, 28 +/- 2 Omega), central venous pressure (5 +/- 1, 4 +/- 1 mmHg), T(core) (37.5 +/- 0.1, 37.5 +/- 0.1 degrees C), and T(sk) (34.1 +/- 0.3, 34.2 +/- 0.2 degrees C) were not significantly different at 3 min of recovery between active and inactive recoveries, respectively; all P > 0.05. At 3 min of recovery, chest CVC was not significantly different between active (25 +/- 6% of maximum) and inactive (28 +/- 6% of maximum; P > 0.05) recovery. In contrast, at this time point, chest sweat rate was higher during active (0.45 +/- 0.16 mg.cm(-2).min(-1)) compared with inactive (0.34 +/- 0.19 mg.cm(-2).min(-1); P < 0.05) recovery. After exercise CVC and sweat rate are differentially controlled, with CVC being primarily influenced by baroreceptor loading status while sweat rate is influenced by other factors.     

Effects of metabolic rate on thermal responses at different air velocities in -10 degrees C

The effects of exercise intensity on thermoregulatory responses in cold (-10 degrees C) in a 0.2 (still air, NoWi), 1.0 (Wi1), and 5.0 (Wi5) m x s(-1) wind were studied. Eight young and healthy men, preconditioned in thermoneutral (+20 degrees C) environment for 60 min, walked for 60 min on the treadmill at 2.8 km/h with different combinations of wind and exercise intensity. Exercise level was adjusted by changing the inclination of the treadmill between 0 degrees (lower exercise intensity, metabolic rate 124 W x m(-2), LE) and 6 degrees (higher exercise intensity, metabolic rate 195 W x m(-2), HE). Due to exercise increased heat production and circulatory adjustments, the rectal temperature (T(re)), mean skin temperature (Tsk) and mean body temperature (Tb) were significantly higher at the end of HE in comparison to LE in NoWi and Wi1, and T(re) and Tb also in Wi5. Tsk and Tb were significantly decreased by 5.0 m x s(-1) wind in comparison to NoWi and Wi1. The higher exercise intensity was intense enough to diminish peripheral vasoconstriction and consequently the finger skin temperature was significantly higher at the end of HE in comparison to LE in NoWi and Wi1. Mean heat flux from the skin was unaffected by the exercise intensity. At LE oxygen consumption (VO2) was significantly higher in Wi5 than NoWi and Wi1. Heart rate was unaffected by the wind speed. The results suggest that, with studied exercise intensities, produced without changes in walking speed, the metabolic rate is not so important that it should be taken into consideration in the calculation of wind chill index.