Adrenergic, respiratory, and cardiovascular effects of core cooling in humans. Am J Physiol 1997 Feb;272(2 Pt 2):R557-62
Date
02/01/1997Pubmed ID
9124478DOI
10.1152/ajpregu.1997.272.2.R557Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0030969415 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 151 CitationsAbstract
The adrenergic, respiratory, and cardiovascular responses to isolated core cooling were assessed in awake human subjects. Mild core hypothermia was induced by intravenous infusion of 30 or 40 ml/kg of cold saline (4 degrees C) on 2 separate days. A warm intravenous infusion (30 ml/kg, 37 degrees C) was given on a third day as a control treatment. Mean norepinephrine concentration increased 400% and total body oxygen consumption increased 30% when core temperature decreased 0.7 degrees C. Mean norepinephrine concentration increased 700% and total body oxygen consumption increased 112% when core temperature decreased 1.3 degrees C. Core cooling was associated with peripheral vasoconstriction and increased mean arterial blood pressure, whereas heart rate was unchanged. Plasma epinephrine and cortisol concentrations were unchanged during core cooling. There were no changes in any measured parameter with the warm infusion. These findings suggest that mild hypothermia induced by isolated core cooling is associated with an adrenergic response characterized by peripheral sympathetic nervous system activation without a significant adrenocortical or adrenomedullary response. The respiratory and cardiovascular responses to core cooling are characterized by a shivering-induced increase in metabolic rate, norepinephrine-mediated peripheral vasoconstriction, and increased arterial blood pressure.
Author List
Frank SM, Higgins MS, Fleisher LA, Sitzmann JV, Raff H, Breslow MJAuthor
Hershel Raff PhD Professor in the Academic Affairs department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Body Temperature
Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena
Catheterization
Cold Temperature
Humans
Infusions, Intravenous
Male
Norepinephrine
Oxygen Consumption
Respiration
Skin Temperature
Sodium Chloride
Sympathetic Nervous System
Vasoconstriction