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Factors affecting cold acclimation and thermogenesis in man.

J Leblanc1

  • 1Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada.

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|October 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary

Human responses to cold exposure vary. Moderate cold exposure leads to habituation, not thermogenesis, while severe cold shows no adaptation. Localized severe cold exposure, however, does induce adaptive responses.

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Area of Science:

  • Human physiology
  • Environmental medicine
  • Thermoregulation

Background:

  • Cold exposure in humans presents in three forms: systemic moderate (SM), systemic severe (SS), and local severe (LS).
  • Rodent models show non-shivering thermogenesis in response to moderate cold, a response not observed in humans.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate human physiological and adaptive responses to different types of cold exposure.
  • To compare human cold exposure responses with those observed in rodent models.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study of human participants exposed to three distinct cold conditions: SM, SS, and LS.
  • Assessment of physiological markers including heat production, shivering, discomfort, and autonomic activity.

Main Results:

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  • Prolonged SM cold exposure in humans results in habituation, characterized by reduced heat production, shivering, and discomfort, unlike thermogenesis in rats.
  • SS cold exposure did not yield adaptation, with persistent shivering and discomfort, and evidence of increased sympathetic response.
  • LS cold exposure demonstrated adaptive responses, including decreased discomfort and autonomic activity, potentially linked to habituation.

Conclusions:

  • Human adaptation to cold differs significantly from rodent models, particularly in response to moderate systemic cold.
  • Habituation appears to be a key adaptive mechanism for both moderate systemic and local severe cold exposures in humans.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind human cold adaptation and sympathetic responses.