title: Plasma levels of endothelin-1 and atrial natriuretic peptide in men during a 2-hour stay in a cold room.
abstract: Male volunteers were exposed to +10 degrees C ambient temperature for 2 hours while they were sitting undressed. The levels of endothelin-1 and atrial natriuretic peptide were determined by radioimmunoassays. Control samples were obtained at thermoneutrality. The cold exposure resulted in lowering of the mean skin temperature (from 31.2 +/- 0.3 degrees C-22.6 +/- 2.5 degrees C, mean +/- SEM), which indicates that a marked vasoconstriction took place, as well as a decrease of the body heat content (by 11.2 +/- 0.7 kJ kg-1). However, plasma endothelin-1 levels did not change significantly during the exposure. Thus circulating endothelin-1 does not seem to be responsible for the vasoconstriction associated with cold air exposure. The plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels exhibited a slight increase towards the end of the cold exposure. This finding is in accord with the notion that atrial natriuretic peptide might contribute to the diuresis frequently observed in the cold.
authors.affiliation: Oulu Regional Institute of Occupational Health, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hassi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rintamäki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ruskoaho
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leppäluoto
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vuolteenaho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D001831:Body Temperature; D003080:Cold Temperature; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor