Key result
Exposure to +10°C for 2 hours caused marked vasoconstriction but did not significantly change plasma endothelin-1 levels, while slightly increasing atrial natriuretic peptide.
Why the study?
Does exposure to cold air alter plasma levels of endothelin-1 and atrial natriuretic peptide in male volunteers?
Does exposure to cold air alter plasma levels of endothelin-1 and atrial natriuretic peptide in male volunteers?
Cold-induced vasoconstriction does not appear to be mediated by circulating endothelin-1, while cold-induced diuresis may be related to increased atrial natriuretic peptide.
Questions endothelin-1 mediation of cold vasoconstriction; hypothesis-generating for atrial natriuretic peptide in cold diuresis.
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.
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Hassi et al. (1991) studied this question. Cold exposure (+10 degrees C ambient temperature) vs. Thermoneutrality was evaluated on Plasma levels of endothelin-1 and atrial natriuretic peptide. Exposure to +10°C for 2 hours caused marked vasoconstriction but did not significantly change plasma endothelin-1 levels, while slightly increasing atrial natriuretic peptide.
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