Prolonged Whole Body Immersion in Cold Water: Hormonal and Metabolic Changes

摘要

To characterize metabolic and hormonal responses during prolonged whole bodyimmersion, 16 divers wearing dry suits completed four immersions in 5 deg C water during each of two 5-day air saturation dives at 6.1 meters of sea water. One immersion began in the Am (1000 hour) and one began in the PM (2200 h) to evaluate diurnal variations. Venous blood samples were obtained before and after completion of each immersion. Cortisol and (adrenocorticotropic hormone) levels demonstrated diurnal variation, with larger increases occurring after PM immersions. A greater than three-fold postimmersion increase occurred in norepinephrine (NE). Keywords: Diving, Epinephrine, Free fatty acid, Glucose, Lactate, Norepinephrine, Triiodothyronone uptake, Reprints, NE, ACTH, Immersion in cold water. (jg)