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Updated: Jan 16, 2026
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The Use of the Patch-Clamp Technique to Study the Thermogenic Capacity of Mitochondria
Published on: May 3, 2021
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Mitochondrial adaptations from heat acclimation - A narrative review.
Marcos S Keefe1, Danielle E Levitt2, Heather L Vellers3
1Sport Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA.
Journal of Thermal Biology
|September 29, 2025
Summary
Global heat stress increases illness risk. Heat acclimation (HA) improves body response by inducing mitochondrial adaptations, enhancing exercise performance and aiding future heat exposure resilience.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Physiology
- Mitochondrial Biology
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Rising global temperatures and humidity increase heat-related illness and impair exercise performance.
- Heat acclimation (HA) is a strategy to adapt the body to heat stress, enhancing resilience.
- Mitochondrial adaptations are increasingly recognized as key contributors to whole-body heat acclimation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of HA on mitochondria across various models (cell, rodent, human).
- To link mitochondrial changes induced by HA to improvements in exercise performance.
- To propose an optimized HA protocol for mitochondrial adaptation and performance enhancement.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing literature on heat acclimation and mitochondrial function.
- Analysis of studies across cell, animal, and human models.
- Synthesis of data to correlate mitochondrial adaptations with physiological and performance outcomes.
Main Results:
- Heat stress alters molecular pathways of mitochondrial biogenesis and function.
- HA induces significant subcellular adaptations within mitochondria.
- These mitochondrial changes are linked to enhanced exercise performance under heat stress.
Conclusions:
- Mitochondrial adaptations are a crucial component of heat acclimation.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms linking mitochondrial responses to HA benefits.
- Optimized HA protocols can leverage mitochondrial adaptations for improved thermoregulation and exercise capacity.
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