title: Desensitization of menthol-activated cold receptors in lower extremities during local cooling in young women with a cold constitution.
abstract: To test the hypothesis that topical menthol-induced reactivity of cold sensation and cutaneous vasoconstriction to local cooling is augmented in individuals with a cold constitution, we examined thermal sensation and cutaneous vasoconstrictor responses at menthol-treated and untreated sites in the legs during local skin cooling in young women complaining of chilliness (C group) and young women with no complaint as a normal control group (N group). During local skin cooling, the sensitivity to cold sensation was greater in the C group than in the N group. The application of menthol enhanced the cold sensation at a low temperature in the N group, but not in the C group. Cutaneous vasoconstrictor responses to local skin cooling were not altered by menthol treatment in either of the two groups. These findings suggest the desensitization of menthol-activated cold receptors in the legs of C group subjects, and a minor role of cold receptor activity in cutaneous vasoconstrictor response to local cooling.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Nursing and Human Nutrition, Yamaguchi Prefectural University, 6-2-1 Sakurabatake, Yamaguchi, 753-0021, Japan. fsone@n.ypu.jp.
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5940-2088
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Health Science, Faculty of Education, University of Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryoko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sone
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008610:Menthol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D008610:Menthol
keywords: Cold receptor; Cold sensation; Local temperature; Skin blood flow; TRPM8