title: Gender-specific cold responses induce a similar body-cooling rate but different neuroendocrine and immune responses.
abstract: This study investigated whether there are any gender differences in body-heating strategies during cold stress and whether the immune and neuroendocrine responses to physiological stress differ between men and women. Thirty-two participants (18 men and 14 women) were exposed to acute cold stress by immersion to the manubrium level in 14 °C water. The cold stress continued until rectal temperature (TRE) reached 35.5 °C or for a maximum of 170 min. The responses to cold stress of various indicators of body temperature, insulation, metabolism, shivering, stress, and endocrine and immune function were compared between men and women. During cold stress, TRE and muscle and mean skin temperatures decreased in all subjects (P<0.001). These variables and the TRE cooling rate did not differ between men and women. The insulative response was greater in women (P<0.05), whereas metabolic heat production and shivering were greater (P<0.05) in men. Indicators of cold strain did not differ between men and women, but men exhibited larger changes in the indicators of neuroendocrine (epinephrine level) and in immune (tumor necrosis factor-α level) responses (both P<0.05). The results of the present study indicated that men exhibited a greater metabolic response and shivering thermogenesis during acute cold stress, whereas women exhibited a greater insulative response. Despite the similar experience of cold strain in men and women, the neuroendocrine and immune responses were larger in men. Contrary to our expectations, the cooling rate was similar in men and women.
authors.affiliation: Sports Research and Innovation Institute, Lithuanian Sports University, Sporto str. 6, LT-44221 Kaunas, Lithuania. Electronic address: rima.solianik@lsu.lt.
authors.forename: Rima
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Solianik
authors.affiliation: Sports Research and Innovation Institute, Lithuanian Sports University, Sporto str. 6, LT-44221 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Albertas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skurvydas
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu str. 2, LT-50028 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Astra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitkauskienė
authors.affiliation: Sports Research and Innovation Institute, Lithuanian Sports University, Sporto str. 6, LT-44221 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brazaitis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D058639:Cold-Shock Response; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007101:Immersion; D008297:Male; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D012737:Sex Factors; D012768:Shivering; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019798:Neopterin; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine
keywords: Acute cold stress; Cold response strategies; Thermoregulation