title: Response of plasma endorphins, prolactin and catecholamines in women to intense heat in a sauna.
abstract: Concentrations of immunoreactive beta-endorphin (ir beta-E), corticotropin, cortisol, prolactin and catecholamines in plasma were followed in 11 healthy women during and after exposure to intense heat in a Finnish sauna bath, and compared to those in a similar control situation without exposure to heat. Heat stress significantly increased prolactin and norepinephrine secretion; the percentage increases from the initial plasma concentrations varied from 113 to 1280% (mean 510%) and from 18 to 150% (mean 86%), respectively. The response of the plasma levels of epinephrine, ir beta-E, corticotropin and cortisol to heat exposure was variable. Compared to the control situation, no statistically significant effect of heat exposure on the plasma levels of these hormones was found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laatikainen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kohvakka
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pettersson
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D029002:Steam Bath; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D004723:Endorphins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone