Heat loss from the human head during exercise

Evaporative and convective heat loss from head skin and expired air were measured in four male subjects at rest and during incremental exercise at 5, 15, and 25 degrees C ambient temperature (Ta) to verify whether the head can function as a heat sink for selective brain cooling. The heat losses were measured with an open-circuit method. At rest the heat loss from head skin and expired air decreased with increasing Ta from 69 +/- 5 and 37 +/- 18 (SE) W (5 degrees C) to 44 +/- 25 and 26 +/- 7 W (25 degrees C). At a work load of 150 W the heat loss tended to increase with increasing Ta: 119 +/- 21 (head skin) and 82 +/- 5 W (respiratory tract) at 5 degrees C Ta to 132 +/- 27 and 103 +/- 12 W at 25 degrees C Ta. Heat loss was always higher from the head surface than from the respiratory tract. The heat losses, separately and together (total), were highly correlated to the increasing esophageal temperature at 15 and 25 degrees C Ta. At 5 degrees C Ta on correlation occurred. The results showed that the heat loss from the head was larger than the heat brought to the brain by the arterial blood during hyperthermia, estimated to be 45 W per 1 degree C increase above normal temperature, plus the heat produced by the brain, estimated to be up to 20 W. The total heat to be lost is therefore approximately 65 W during a mild hyperthermia (+1 degrees C) if brain temperature is to remain constant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Muscle and femoral vein temperatures during short-term maximal exercise in heart failure

Core temperature decreases throughout short-term maximal exercise in heart-failure patients. To investigate possible causes for this unusual response to exercise, we studied core (pulmonary arterial blood), femoral vein, muscle, and skin temperatures in eight patients with severe heart failure who performed maximal upright incremental bicycle exercise to 50 W. A normal group (n = 4) was exercised for comparison. In the heart-failure patients, core temperature was 36.95 +/- 0.37 degrees C at rest, significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased at 25 W of exercise to 36.59 +/- 0.40 degrees C, and at 50 W remained decreased to 36.57 +/- 0.40 degrees C. In comparison, we found that the resting core temperature in the normal subjects was 37.28 +/- 0.34 degrees C, was the same at 25 W (37.29 +/- 0.41 degrees C), and increased significantly (P less than 0.05) to 37.50 +/- 0.32 degrees C at 50 W of exercise. Femoral vein temperature in heart-failure patients (n = 6) was below core temperature throughout exercise to 25 and 50 W (36.22 +/- 0.62 and 36.34 +/- 0.65 degrees C, respectively). Muscle temperature (n = 7) was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower in the heart-failure patients (34.8 +/- 1.1 degrees C) at rest compared with the normal subjects (36.2 +/- 1.0 degrees C). During exercise, muscle temperature increased above core temperature in only four of the heart-failure patients and was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower (36.5 +/- 1.3 degrees C) compared with the normal subjects (38.0 +/- 0.2 degrees C).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The influence of whole-body vs. torso pre-cooling on physiological strain and performance of high-intensity exercise in the heat

Little research has been reported examining the effects of pre-cooling on high-intensity exercise performance, particularly when combined with strategies to keep the working muscle warm. This study used nine active males to determine the effects of pre-cooling the torso and thighs (LC), pre-cooling the torso (ice-vest in 3 degrees C air) while keeping the thighs warm (LW), or no cooling (CON: 31 degrees C air), on physiological strain and high-intensity (45-s) exercise performance (33 degrees C, 60% rh). Furthermore, we sought to determine whether performance after pre-cooling was influenced by a short exercise warm-up. The 45-s test was performed at different (P<0.05) mean core temperature [(rectal+oesophageal)/2] [CON: 37.3+/-0.3 (S.D.), LW: 37.1+/-0.3, LC: 36.8+/-0.4 degrees C] and mean skin temperature (CON: 34.6+/-0.6, LW: 29.0+/-1.0, LC: 27.2+/-1.2 degrees C) between all conditions. Forearm blood flow prior to exercise was also lower in LC (3.1+/-2.0 ml 100 ml tissue(-1) x min(-1)) than CON (8.2+/-2.5, P=0.01) but not LW (4.3+/-2.6, P=0.46). After an exercise warm-up, muscle temperature (Tm) was not significantly different between conditions (CON: 37.3+/-1.5, LW: 37.3+/-1.2, LC: 36.6+/-0.7 degrees C, P=0.16) but when warm-up was excluded, T(m) was lower in LC (34.5+/-1.9 degrees C, P=0.02) than in CON (37.3+/-1.0) and LW (37.1+/-0.9). Even when a warm-up was performed, torso+thigh pre-cooling decreased both peak (-3.4+/-3.8%, P=0.04) and mean power output (-4.1+/-3.8%, P=0.01) relative to the control, but this effect was markedly larger when warm-up was excluded (peak power -7.7+/-2.5%, P=0.01; mean power -7.6+/-1.2%, P=0.01). Torso-only pre-cooling did not reduce peak or mean power, either with or without warm-up. These data indicate that pre-cooling does not improve 45-s high-intensity exercise performance, and can impair performance if the working muscles are cooled. A short exercise warm-up largely removes any detrimental effects of a cold muscle on performance by increasing Tm.     

Seawater temperature measured at the surface and at two depths (7 and 12 m) in one coral reef at Culebra Bay, Gulf of Papagayo, Costa Rica

Superficial seawater temperature (SST) and at two depths (7 and 12 m) were measured non-continuously during the study of the corals and coral reefs of Culebra Bay (1993-1996). SST showed seasonal variations of approximately 4 degrees C. The highest average temperatures (27.0 +/- 0.1, range 23-29 degrees C) were during the rainy season from May to November and the lowest (22.9 +/- 0.3 degrees C, 15.5-29 degrees C) during the dry season from December to April. Cold fronts with 2-3 degrees C differences in SST frequently pass into the bay and remain there for several hours according to the tidal cycles. Differences of approximately 3 degrees C between SST and the bottom (5-10 m depth) were usually found, particularly at locations where bottom topography and tidal circulation produced tidal bores. The average temperatures recorded by data loggers placed at 7 and 12 m depth on a coral reef at the outer shores of Culebra Bay, were 27.1 +/- 0.02 degrees C (20.5-31.6 degrees C) and 25.8 +/- 0.04 (9.9-31.5 degrees C) respectively. The seasonal pattern of higher and lower temperatures corresponds respectively to the rainy and dry season of the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Water temperature at 12 m was < 14 degrees C for some hours during an upwelling event whilst minimum temperatures at 7 m were > or = 22 degrees C. Negative temperature anomalies coincided with an increase of the NE-E winds intensity and there is a lunar and tidal component which influence diumal variations of temperature. These results suggest that coral reefs built by branching species (e.g. Pocillopora spp.) in Culebra Bay could be limited by both the influence of cold fronts and by seasonal upwellings which affect negatively those coral species, as reported for other locations in the tropical eastern Pacific.     

沼泽湿地垦殖前后土壤温度变化及其对土壤热状况的影响

沼泽湿地具有重要的生态与环境功能,其对全球气候变化较为敏感,土壤温度变化能够很好地指示气候的波动.沼泽湿地土壤温度呈明显的"正弦曲线"型年、季动态,不同深度土壤年均温度呈"U"型特征.5～9月份沼泽湿地10 cm土壤平均温度为11.69±3.04℃,垦殖后农田土壤为1.80±3.41℃.沼泽湿地土壤8、9月份土壤呼吸分别为156.41±76.91 mg·m^-2·h^-1和116.75±57.43 m^-2·h^-1,是同时期农田土壤呼吸通量的14.6%和13.1%,土壤温度与土壤呼吸通量呈显著正相关关系.     

The acute temperature tolerance of green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) and the effect of environmental salinity

We investigated the effect of environmental salinity on the upper thermal tolerance of green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris), a threatened species whose natural habitat is vulnerable to temperature and salinity variation as a result of global climate change. Freshwater (FW)-reared sturgeon were gradually acclimated to salinities representing FW, estuary water (EST), or San Francisco Bay water (BAY) at 18 degrees C, and their critical thermal maximum (CTMax) was measured by increasing temperature 0.3 degrees C/min until branchial ventilation ceased. CTMax was 34.2+/-0.09 degrees C in EST-acclimated fish, with FW- and BAY-acclimated fish CTMax at 33.7+/-0.08 and 33.7+/-0.1 degrees C, respectively. Despite the higher CTMax in EST-acclimated fish, FW-acclimated sturgeon ventilation rate reached a peak that was 2 degrees C higher than EST- and BAY-acclimated groups and had a greater range of temperatures within which they exhibited normal ventilatory function as assessed by Q(10) calculation. The osmoregulatory consequences of exposure to near-lethal temperatures were assessed by measuring plasma osmolality and hematocrit, as well as white muscle, brain, and heart tissue water contents. Hematocrit was increased following CTMax exposure, most likely owing to the elevated metabolic demands of temperature increase, and plasma osmolality was significantly increased in EST- and BAY-acclimated fish, which was likely the result of a greater osmotic gradient across the gill as metabolism increased. To our knowledge, this represents the first evidence for an effect of salinity on the upper thermal tolerance of sturgeon, as well as the first investigation of the osmoregulatory consequences of exposure to near-lethal temperatures. J. Exp. Zool. 309A:477-483, 2008. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Role of core temperature as a stimulus for cold acclimation during repeated immersion in 20 degrees C water.

The relative importance of skin vs. core temperature for stimulating cold acclimation (CA) was examined by 5 wk of daily 1-h water immersions (20 degrees C) in resting (RG) and exercising (EG) subjects. Rectal temperature fell (0.8 degrees C; P < 0.05) during immersion only in RG. Skin temperature fell (P < 0.05) similarly in both groups. Physiological responses during cold-air exposure (90 min, 5 degrees C) were assessed before and after CA. Body temperatures and metabolic heat production were similar in both groups with no change due to CA. Cardiac output was lower (P < 0.05) in both groups post-CA (10.4 +/- 1.2 l/min) than pre-CA (12.2 +/- 1. 0 l/min), but mean arterial pressure was unchanged (pre-CA 107 +/- 2 mmHg, post-CA 101 +/- 2 mmHg). The increase in norepinephrine was greater (P < 0.05) post-CA (954 +/- 358 pg/ml) compared with pre-CA (1,577 +/- 716 pg/ml) for RG, but CA had no effect on the increase in norepinephrine for EG (pre-CA 1,288 +/- 438 pg/ml, post-CA 1,074 +/- 279 pg/ml). Skin temperature reduction alone may be a sufficient stimulus during CA for increased vasoconstrictor response, but core temperature reduction appears necessary to enhance sympathetic activation during cold exposure.     

Pulmonary vascular responsiveness in cold-exposed calves

The pulmonary vascular responses to acute hypoxia and to infusions of histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were recorded in unanesthetized standing bull calves under neutral (16-18 degrees C) and cold (3-5 degrees C) temperature conditions. Cold exposure alone resulted in a significant increase in pulmonary arterial wedge pressure from 10.2 +/- 3.5 to 15.9 +/- 4.9 Torr (1 Torr = 133.322 Pa). Resistance to blood flow between the pulmonary wedge and the left atrium significantly increased from 0.50 +/- 0.51 to 1.21 +/- 0.78 mmHg . L-1 . min-1 (1 mmHg = 133.322 Pa) with cold exposure. This apparent pulmonary venoconstrictor response to cold exposure was further evaluated to determine if hypoxia, histamine, or 5-HT responsiveness was altered by cold exposure. Twelve minutes of hypoxia increased pulmonary arterial and systemic arterial pressures, heart rate, and respiratory rate similarly in cold and neutral temperatures. Cold exposure did not alter the dose-related reductions of systemic arterial and pulmonary arterial pressures in response to histamine. Similarly, the decreases in systemic arterial pressure and heart rate and increases in pulmonary arterial and left atrial pressures in response to 5-HT were not significantly different in cold and neutral conditions. It was concluded that acute, mild cold exposure results in an increase in resistance to blood flow in the pulmonary venous circulation without a general increase in pulmonary vascular reactivity, as measured by responses to hypoxia, histamine, and 5-HT.     

In vivo brown fat response to hypothermia and norepinephrine in the ovine fetus

The goal of this study was to assess the response of fetal brown fat in vivo to hypothermia and norepinephrine infusion. In 10 unanaesthetized, chronically-prepared fetal sheep (133 +/- 2 days of gestation) cold water was passed through tubing encircling the fetus in utero and plasma glycerol concentration was measured as an indicator of brown fat activity. Following cooling for 60 min, amniotic fluid temperature fell 7.79 degrees C to 31.66 +/- 1.73 degrees C (n = 8, P less than 0.001) and maternal temperature fell 0.63 degree C to 38.63 +/- 0.08 degrees C (n = 9, P less than 0.001). Eight of the fetuses were subjected to a second experiment in which norepinephrine was infused intravenously for 15 min. During infusion fetal arterial temperature fell 0.38 degrees C to 39.05 +/- 0.25 degrees C (n = 7, P less than 0.05). Amniotic fluid temperature (n = 7, NS) and maternal arterial temperature (n = 7, NS) remained constant. Glycerol concentration during the infusion increased from 0.73 to 1.27 mg/dl, a 74% increase over control (n = 8, P less than 0.001). Although clearly detectable, these glycerol responses to hypothermia and norepinephrine stimulation are one-third or less of those achieved after birth, indicating that thermogenesis remains quiescent in the near-term fetal sheep, despite powerful stimuli for activation.     

Metabolic rate and thermoregulation in two species of tuco-tuco, Ctenomys talarum and Ctenomys australis (Caviomorpha, Octodontidae)

1. Resting metabolic rate and body temperature in function of ambient temperature were determined for two species of Ctenomys. 2. Oxygen consumption was lowest between 25 and 30 degrees C and was 0.946 +/- 0.030 and 0.968 +/- 0.022 in Ctenomys talarum (from Mar de Cobo and Necochea, respectively). Resting metabolic rate was 0.343 +/- 0.053 at 30 C in C. australis. 3. Mean rectal temperature at thermoneutrality was 36.1 +/- 0.13 and 37.3 +/- 0.17 in C. talarum and C. australis, respectively. 4. Limited thermoregulation occurred in C. talarum down to 20 degrees C but C. australis maintained body temperature down to 10 degrees C. 5. Both species of tuco-tucos became hyperthermic at ambient temperatures above thermoneutrality.     

Hypohydration effect on finger skin temperature and blood flow during cold-water finger immersion.

This study was conducted to determine whether hypohydration (Hy) alters blood flow, skin temperature, or cold-induced vasodilation (CIVD) during peripheral cooling. Fourteen subjects sat in a thermoneutral environment (27 degrees C) during 15-min warm-water (42 degrees C) and 30-min cold-water (4 degrees C) finger immersion (FI) while euhydrated (Eu) and, again, during Hy. Hy (-4% body weight) was induced before FI by exercise-heat exposure (38 degrees C, 30% relative humidity) with no fluid replacement, whereas during Eu, fluid intake maintained body weight. Finger pad blood flow [as measured by laser-Doppler flux (LDF)] and nail bed (T(nb)), pad (T(pad)), and core (T(c)) temperatures were measured. LDF decreased similarly during Eu and Hy (32 +/- 10 and 33 +/- 13% of peak during warm-water immersion). Mean T(nb) and T(pad) were similar between Eu (7.1 +/- 1.0 and 11.5 +/- 1.6 degrees C) and Hy (7.4 +/- 1.3 and 12.6 +/- 2.1 degrees C). CIVD parameters (e.g., nadir, onset time, apex) were similar between trials, except T(pad) nadir was higher during Hy (10.4 +/- 3.8 degrees C) than during Eu (7.9 +/- 1.6 degrees C), which was attributed to higher T(c) in six subjects during Hy (37.5 +/- 0.2 degrees C), compared with during Eu (37.1 +/- 0.1 degrees C). The results of this study provide no evidence that Hy alters finger blood flow, skin temperature, or CIVD during peripheral cooling.     

镇江内江湿地不同演替阶段植物群落小气候日动态

2005年5月,选择镇江内江湿地具有代表性的裸地、虉草群落和芦苇群落,分别代表植被群落的不同演替阶段,测定不同群落、不同层次的光照强度、气温、土温和空气相对湿度,研究其植物群落小气候的日动态.结果表明,随演替由裸地到虉草群落到芦苇群落进行,群落内光照强度、气温和土壤温度均明显降低,日变幅减小.其中,日均光照强度由1 204.7 μmol·m^-2·s^-1降至141.28 μmol·m^-2·s^-1,日均变幅由1 126μmol·m^-2·s^-1降至265 μmol·m^-2·s^-1;日均气温由32.2 ℃降至24.9 ℃,日均变幅由12.75 ℃降至4.8 ℃;日均土温由21.83 ℃降至19.47 ℃,日均变幅由4.5 ℃降至2.1 ℃.群落内空气相对湿度明显升高(由58.95%增至87.3%）,变幅减小(由29.75%降至5.15%）.生境具有早期的开放性和后期的封闭性,小气候环境朝着更为阴、凉、湿的环境变化,且波动性减弱,稳定性增强.各群落内的光强、气温、湿度及土温之间均存在一定相关,但不同演替阶段各因子间相关程度各异.     

Thermal regulation and comfort during a mild-cold exposure in young Japanese women complaining of unusual coldness.

We examined body core and skin temperatures and thermal comfort in young Japanese women suffering from unusual coldness (C, n = 6). They were selected by interview asking whether they often felt severe coldness even in an air-conditioned environment (20-26 degrees C) and compared with women not suffering from coldness (N, n = 6). Experiments were conducted twice for each subject: 120-min exposure at 23.5 degrees C or 29.5 degrees C after a 40-min baseline at 29.5 degrees C. Mean skin temperature decreased (P < 0.05) from 33.6 +/- 0.1 degrees C (mean +/- SE) to 31.1 +/- 0.1 degrees C and from 33.5 +/- 0.1 degrees C to 31.1 +/- 0.1 degrees C in C and N during the 23.5 degrees C exposure. Fingertip temperature in C decreased more than in N (P < 0.05; from 35.2 +/- 0.1 degrees C to 23.6 +/- 0.2 degrees C and from 35.5 +/- 0.1 degrees C to 25.6 +/- 0.6 degrees C). Those temperatures during the 29.5 degrees C exposure remained at the baseline levels. Rectal temperature during the 23.5 degrees C exposure was maintained at the baseline level in both groups (from 36.9 +/- 0.2 degrees C to 36.8 +/- 0.1 degrees C and 37.1 +/- 0.1 degrees C to 37.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C in C and N). The rating scores of cold discomfort for both the body and extremities were greater (P < 0.05) in C than in N. Thus the augmented thermal sensitivity of the body to cold and activated vasoconstriction of the extremities during cold exposure could be the mechanism for the severe coldness felt in C.     

Acute heat stress protects rats against endotoxin shock.

The purpose of this study was to determine 1) whether prior (24-h) heat stress could render rats cross-resistant to the lethal activity of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 2) whether this acquired state of resistance is associated with endotoxemia during the heat stress event. Four groups (n = 7/group) of rats were examined: 1) saline treated, 2) LPS treated, 3) heat stressed and saline treated, and 4) heat stressed and LPS treated. Saline or LPS (Escherichia coli, serotype 0111:B4, 20 mg/kg body wt) was given intravenously 24 h after exposure to heat (ambient temperature 47-50 degrees C, relative humidity 30%) for heat-stressed rats and at the same time of day for nonheated rats; survival was monitored for 48 h. Thermal responses were similar (P > 0.05); values for maximum core temperature (Tc) and time above Tc of 40 degrees C were 42.7 +/- 0.1 and 42.6 +/- 0.1 degrees C (SE) and 44.0 +/- 2.1 and 47.9 +/- 3.7 (SE) min for the heat-stressed saline-treated and heat-stressed LPS-treated rats, respectively. Administration of LPS to nonheated rats resulted in 71.4% (5 of 7 rats) lethality. In contrast, all (7 of 7) rats subjected to a single nonlethal heat stress event 24 h before LPS treatment survived (P < 0.05). Endotoxin was not detected in arterial plasma immediately after heat stress in rats (n = 6) exposed to a Tc of 42.9 +/- 0.1 degrees C. These findings demonstrate that acute heat stress can protect rats from the lethal activity of LPS.     

Behavioral thermoregulation of wild Japanese macaques: comparisons between two subpopulations

We studied the behavioral thermoregulation of Japanese macaques in two troops that live in the coniferous (1,000-1,200 m in elevation) and coastal forests (0-200 m in elevation) of Yakushima. Frequency of sunbathing, huddling, and microhabitat selection during inactivity was compared. The difference in mean annual air temperature between the forests was more than 7 degrees C. In both forests, when the weather was clear, macaques spent more time being inactive in the sunshine in winter than in autumn. In winter, they huddled more often when it was clear than when cloudy. Microhabitat selection to stay in the sunshine during winter differed between the two forests. In winter, macaques spent more time inactive in open habitats in the coniferous forest and in the trees in the coastal forest than in autumn, respectively. This difference is related to the lower crown height in the coastal forest and the large open habitats (logged area) available only in the coniferous forest. In winter, skin temperature measured by temperature-sensitive transmitters was 1.32-1.71 degrees C higher when sunbathing, and 0.83-4.75 degrees C higher when huddling than staying in the shade without huddling. In winter, the proportion with which they stayed in the sunshine or huddled in winter did not differ between the two forests, in spite of the difference in air temperature. This suggests that Japanese macaques respond to seasonal changes in air temperature, not the absolute temperature, and that they acclimatize themselves to thermal conditions that require behavioral thermoregulation only during the season when thermoregulation is most costly.     

Thermoregulation of weaned northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) pups in air and water

Fasting weaned northern elephant seal pups (Mirounga angustirostris) experience diverse environmental conditions on land and in water on a daily basis. Each environment undoubtedly induces distinct energetic costs that may vary for pups of differing body condition. To determine the energetic costs associated with different environmental conditions and whether costs vary between individuals, body mass, surface area, volume, body composition, resting metabolic rate, and core body temperature were determined for 17 weaned northern elephant seal pups from A?o Nuevo, California. Metabolic rate and body temperature were measured for pups resting in air (20.9 degrees +/-0.8 degrees C), cold water (3.8 degrees+/-0.4 degrees ;C), and warm water (14.5 degrees+/-0.2 degrees C). Resting metabolic rate increased with body mass (range: 62.0-108.0 kg) and was also correlated with lean mass and lipid mass. Metabolic rates ranged from 293.6 to 512.7 mL O(2) min(-1) and were lowest for pups resting in cold water. Thermal conductance, calculated from metabolic rate and core body temperature, ranged from 3.1 to 15.2 W degrees C(-1), with the highest values in air and the lowest values in cold water. Metabolic responses to the three environmental conditions did not differ with individual variation in body condition. For all elephant seal pups, a consequence of high lipid content is that thermoregulatory costs are greatest on land and lowest in cold water, a pattern that contrasts markedly with terrestrial mammals.     

Role of skin blood flow and sweating rate in exercise thermoregulation after bed rest.

Two potential mechanisms, reduced skin blood flow (SBF) and sweating rate (SR), may be responsible for elevated intestinal temperature (T(in)) during exercise after bed rest and spaceflight. Seven men underwent 13 days of 6 degrees head-down bed rest. Pre- and post-bed rest, subjects completed supine submaximal cycle ergometry (20 min at 40% and 20 min at 65% of pre-bed rest supine peak exercise capacity) in a thermoneutral room. After bed rest, T(in) was elevated at rest (+0.31 +/- 0.12 degrees C) and at the end of exercise (+0.33 +/- 0.07 degrees C). Percent increase in SBF during exercise was less after bed rest (211 +/- 53 vs. 96 +/- 31%; P < or = 0.05), SBF/T(in) threshold was greater (37.09 +/- 0.16 vs. 37.33 +/- 0.13 degrees C; P < or = 0.05), and slope of SBF/T(in) tended to be reduced (536 +/- 184 vs. 201 +/- 46%/ degrees C; P = 0.08). SR/T(in) threshold was delayed (37.06 +/- 0.11 vs. 37.34 +/- 0.06 degrees C; P < or = 0.05), but the slope of SR/T(in) (3.45 +/- 1.22 vs. 2.58 +/- 0.71 mg x min-1 x cm-2 x degrees C-1) and total sweat loss (0.42 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.44 +/- 0.08 kg) were not changed. The higher resting and exercise T(in) and delayed onset of SBF and SR suggest a centrally mediated elevation in the thermoregulatory set point during bed rest exposure.     

The effects of acclimation on thermal tolerance, desiccation resistance and metabolic rate in Chirodica chalcoptera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Despite much focus on species responses to environmental variation through space and time, many higher taxa and geographic areas remain poorly studied. We report the effects of temperature acclimation on thermal tolerance, desiccation rate and metabolic rate for adult Chirodica chalcoptera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) collected from Protea nerifolia inflorescences in the Fynbos Biome in South Africa. After 7 days of acclimation at 12, 19 and 25 degrees C, critical thermal maxima (mean+/-s.e.: 41.8+/-0.2 degrees C in field-fresh beetles) showed less response (<1 degrees C change) to temperature acclimation than did the onset of the critical thermal minima (0.1+/-0.2, 1.0+/-0.2 and 2.3+/-0.2 degrees C, respectively). Freezing was lethal in C. chalcoptera (field-fresh SCP -14.6 degrees C) and these beetles also showed pre-freeze mortality. Survival of 2 h at -10.1 degrees C increased from 20% to 76% after a 2 h pre-exposure to -2 degrees C, indicating rapid cold hardening. Metabolic rate, measured at 25 degrees C and adjusted by ANCOVA for mass variation, did not differ between males and females (2.772+/-0.471 and 2.517+/-0.560 ml CO2 h(-1), respectively), but was higher in 25 degrees C-acclimated beetles relative to the field-fresh and 12 degrees C-acclimated beetles. Body water content and desiccation rate did not differ between males and females and did not respond significantly to acclimation. We place these data in the context of measured inflorescence and ambient temperatures, and predict that climate change for the region could have effects on this species, in turn possibly affecting local ecosystem functioning.     

Effect of pre-cooling, with and without thigh cooling, on strain and endurance exercise performance in the heat

Body cooling before exercise (i.e. pre-cooling) reduces physiological strain in humans during endurance exercise in temperate and warm environments, usually improving performance. This study examined the effectiveness of pre-cooling humans by ice-vest and cold (3 degrees C) air, with (LC) and without (LW) leg cooling, in reducing heat strain and improving endurance performance in the heat (35 degrees C, 60% RH). Nine habitually-active males completed three trials, involving pre-cooling (LC and LW) or no pre-cooling (CON: 34 degrees C air) before 35-min cycle exercise: 20 min at approximately 65% VO2peak then a 15-min work-performance trial. At exercise onset, mean core (Tc, from oesophagus and rectum) and skin temperatures, forearm blood flow (FBF), heart rate (HR), and ratings of exertion, body temperature and thermal discomfort were lower in LW and LC than CON (P<0.05). They remained lower at 20 min [e.g. Tc: CON 38.4+/-0.2 (+/-S.E.), LW 37.9+/-0.1, and LC 37.8+/-0.1 degrees C; HR: 177+/-3, 163+/-3 and 167+/-3 b.p.m.), except that FBF was equivalent (P=0.10) between CON (15.5+/-1.6) and LW (13.6+/-1.0 ml.100 ml tissue(-1) x min(-1)). Subsequent power output was higher in LW (2.95+/-0.24) and LC (2.91+/-0.25) than in CON (2.52+/-0.28 W kg(-1), P=0.00, N=8), yet final Tc remained lower. Pre-cooling by ice-vest and cold air effectively reduced physiological and psychophysical strain and improved endurance performance in the heat, irrespective of whether thighs were warmed or cooled.     

Regional hemodynamics during postexercise hypotension. II. Cutaneous circulation.

After an acute bout of exercise, there is an unexplained elevation in systemic vascular conductance that is not completely offset by an increase in cardiac output, resulting in a postexercise hypotension. The contributions of the splanchnic and renal circulations are examined in a companion paper (Pricher MP, Holowatz LA, Williams JT, Lockwood JM, and Halliwill JR. J Appl Physiol 97: 2065-2070, 2004). The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of the cutaneous circulation in postexercise hypotension under thermoneutral conditions (approximately 23 degrees C). Arterial blood pressure was measured via an automated sphygmomanometer, internal temperature was measured via an ingestible pill, and skin temperature was measured with eight thermocouples. Red blood cell flux (laser-Doppler flowmetry) was monitored at four skin sites (chest, forearm, thigh, and leg), and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated (red blood cell flux/mean arterial pressure) and scaled as percent maximal CVC (local heating to 43 degrees C). Ten subjects [6 men and 4 women; age 23 +/- 1 yr; peak O(2) uptake (Vo(2 peak)) 45.8 +/- 2.0 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)] volunteered for this study. After supine rest (30 min), subjects exercised on a bicycle ergometer for 1 h at 60% of their Vo(2 peak) and were then positioned supine for 90 min. Exercise elicited a postexercise hypotension reaching a nadir at 46.0 +/- 4.5 min postexercise (77 +/- 1 vs. 82 +/- 2 mmHg preexercise; P < 0.05). Internal temperature increased (38.0 +/- 0.1 vs. 36.7 +/- 0.1 degrees C preexercise; P < 0.05), remaining elevated at 90 min postexercise (36.9 +/- 0.1 degrees C vs. preexercise; P < 0.05). CVC at all four skin sites was elevated by the exercise bout (P < 0.05), returning to preexercise values within 50 min postexercise (P > 0.05). Therefore, although transient changes in CVC occur postexercise, they do not appear to play an obligatory role in mediating postexercise hypotension under thermoneutral conditions.