Cold-induced vasodilation and vasoconstriction in the finger of tropical and temperate indigenes

Abstract

While heat acclimatization reflects the development of heat tolerance, it may weaken an ability to tolerate cold. The purpose of this study was to explore cold-induced vasodilation (CIVD) responses in the finger of tropical indigenes during finger cold immersion, along with temperate indigenes. Thirteen tropical male indigenes (subjects born and raised in the tropics) and 11 temperate male indigenes (subjects born and raised in Japan and China) participated. Subjects immersed their middle finger at 4.3±0.8°C water for 30min. Rectal temperature, skin temperatures, finger skin blood flow, blood pressure and subjective sensations were recorded during the test. The results showed that: (1) the tropical group demonstrated a lower minimum (Tmin), maximum (Tmax) and mean finger temperature (Tmean) compared to those of the temperate group (P<0.05); (2) seven tropical indigenes demonstrated a late-plateau type of CIVD pattern, which is characterized by a pronounced 1st vasoconstriction and a single CIVD with a faint and weak 2nd vasoconstriction, whereas no temperate indigene demonstrated the late-plateau type; and (3) the hand temperature at the end of finger immersion was 3°C lower in the tropical than the temperate group (P<0.05). These results indicate that tropical indigenes have less active responses of arterio-venous anastomoses in the finger and weaker vasoconstrictions after the first CIVD response during finger cold immersion, which can be considered as being more vulnerable to cold injury of the periphery in severe cold.