Increase In Evaporative Heat Loss Research Articles

Avian thermoregulation in the heat: metabolism, evaporative cooling and gular flutter in two small owls.

The thermoregulatory responses of owls to heat stress have been the subject of few studies. Although nocturnality buffers desert-dwelling owls from significant heat stress during activity, roost sites in tree and cactus cavities or in deep shade provide only limited refuge from high environmental temperatures during the day. We measured thermoregulatory responses to acute heat stress in two species of small owls, the elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi) and the western screech-owl (Megascops kennicottii), which occupy the Sonoran Desert of southwestern North America, an area of extreme heat and aridity. We exposed wild-caught birds to progressively increasing air temperatures (Ta) and measured resting metabolic rate (RMR), evaporative water loss (EWL), body temperature (Tb) and heat tolerance limits (HTL; the maximum Ta reached). Comparatively low RMR values were observed in both species, Tb approximated Ta at 40°C and mild hyperthermia occurred as Ta was increased toward the HTL. Elf owls and screech-owls reached HTLs of 48 and 52°C, respectively, and RMR increased to 1.5 and 1.9times thermoneutral values. Rates of EWL at the HTL allowed for the dissipation of 167-198% of metabolic heat production (MHP). Gular flutter was used as the primary means of evaporative heat dissipation and produced large increases in evaporative heat loss (44-100%), accompanied by only small increases (<5%) in RMR. These small, cavity-nesting owls have thermoregulatory capacities that are intermediate between those of the open-ground nesting nightjars and the passerines that occupy the same ecosystem.

Effects of intravenous tryptophan infusion on thermoregulation in steers exposed to acute heat stress.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of tryptophan (TRP) supply on the thermoregulatory responses via brain serotonin (5-HT) in cattle. In period 1, 12 Holstein steers were kept under a constant room temperature (22°C) and were administered the intravenous (i.v.) infusion of saline or TRP (38.5mg/kg/2h). Changes in rectal temperature (RT), 5-HT concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and other factors involved in thermoregulation were measured. In period 2, the steers received the same treatments as in period 1; however, the room temperature was elevated from 22°C to 33°C during i.v. infusion and maintained at 33°C for 3h. 5-HT concentration in CSF increased following TRP infusion in both periods, and RT significantly decreased following TRP infusion only in period 2. The effect of TRP on respiration rate and plasma prolactin and total triiodothyronine concentrations was not significant. These results suggest that increase in TRP supply can attenuate increase in RT in response to acute heat stress through the increase in brain 5-HT, followed by presumable increase in evaporative heat loss from the skin surface in cattle. It is possible that the increase in peripheral blood TRP metabolites could also participate in the hypothermic effect of TRP.

Avian thermoregulation in the heat: evaporative cooling capacity of arid-zone Caprimulgiformes from two continents.

Birds in the order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars and allies) have a remarkable capacity for thermoregulation over a wide range of environmental temperatures, exhibiting pronounced heterothermy in cool conditions and extreme heat tolerance at high environmental temperatures. We measured thermoregulatory responses to acute heat stress in three species of Caprimulgiformes that nest in areas of extreme heat and aridity, the common poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii: Caprimulgidae) and lesser nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis: Caprimulgidae) in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, and the Australian owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus: Aegothelidae) in the mallee woodlands of South Australia. We exposed wild-caught birds to progressively increasing air temperatures (Ta) and measured resting metabolic rate (RMR), evaporative water loss (EWL), body temperature (Tb) and heat tolerance limit (HTL; the maximum Ta reached). Comparatively low RMR values were observed in all species (0.35, 0.36 and 0.40 W for the poorwill, nighthawk and owlet-nightjar, respectively), with Tb approximating Ta at 40°C and mild hyperthermia occurring as Ta reached the HTL. Nighthawks and poorwills reached HTLs of 60 and 62°C, respectively, whereas the owlet-nightjar had a HTL of 52°C. RMR increased gradually above minima at Ta of 42, 42 and 35°C, and reached 1.7, 1.9 and 2.0 times minimum resting values at HTLs in the poorwill, nighthawk and owlet-nightjar, respectively. EWL increased rapidly and linearly as Ta exceeded Tb and resulted in maximum rates of evaporative heat dissipation equivalent to 237-424% of metabolic heat production. Bouts of gular flutter resulted in large transient increases in evaporative heat loss (50-123%) accompanied by only small increments in RMR (<5%). The cavity-nesting/roosting owlet-nightjar had a lower HTL and less efficient evaporative cooling compared with the species that nest and/or roost on open desert surfaces. The high efficiency of gular flutter for evaporative cooling, combined with mild hyperthermia, provides the physiological basis for defending Tb well below Ta in extreme heat and is comparable to the efficient cooling observed in arid-zone columbids in which cutaneous EWL is the predominant cooling pathway.

Hyperthermia and cardiovascular strain during an extreme heat exposure in young versus older adults

ABSTRACTWe examined whether older individuals experience greater levels of hyperthermia and cardiovascular strain during an extreme heat exposure compared to young adults. During a 3-hour extreme heat exposure (44°C, 30% relative humidity), we compared body heat storage, core temperature (rectal, visceral) and cardiovascular (heart rate, cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, limb blood flow) responses of young adults (n = 30, 19–28 years) against those of older adults (n = 30, 55–73 years). Direct calorimetry measured whole-body evaporative and dry heat exchange. Body heat storage was calculated as the temporal summation of heat production (indirect calorimetry) and whole-body heat loss (direct calorimetry) over the exposure period. While both groups gained a similar amount of heat in the first hour, the older adults showed an attenuated increase in evaporative heat loss (p < 0.033) in the first 30-min. Thereafter, the older adults were unable to compensate for a greater rate of heat gain (11 ± 1 ; p < 0.05) with a corresponding increase in evaporative heat loss. Older adults stored more heat (358 ± 173 kJ) relative to their younger (202 ± 92 kJ; p < 0.001) counterparts at the end of the exposure leading to greater elevations in rectal (p = 0.043) and visceral (p = 0.05) temperatures, albeit not clinically significant (rise < 0.5°C). Older adults experienced a reduction in calf blood flow (p < 0.01) with heat stress, yet no differences in cardiac output, blood pressure or heart rate. We conclude, in healthy habitually active individuals, despite no clinically observable cardiovascular or temperature changes, older adults experience greater heat gain and decreased limb perfusion in response to 3-hour heat exposure.

The effect of progressive heat acclimation on change in body heat content in young males

Heat acclimation improves the physiological capacity to dissipate heat. As previous studies have only relied upon core temperature and local heat loss measurements, it remains unclear the extent to which whole‐body heat loss, and therefore body heat storage is altered during heat acclimation. Using direct calorimetry, we examined whole‐body heat exchange during progressive increases in the requirement for heat loss during and following a 14‐day heat acclimation protocol. Six young males (Mean±SD, age: 23±3yrs) performed intermittent exercise (3×30‐min bouts of cycling at 300, 350, and 400 W·m−2separated by 10 min rest period) in dry heat (35°C, 20% relative humidity [RH]) prior to (day 0), during (day 7), and at the end (day 14) of a 14‐day heat acclimation. On days 1–6 and 8–13, subjects cycled for 90 min (~50% VO2max) in the heat (40°C, 20% RH). Despite a similar requirement between test days, significantly lower increases in evaporative heat loss were observed for the final exercise bout in days 0 (P=0.01) and 7 (P=0.02) relative to day 14. After 7 days of acclimation, the ΔHb following the exercise did not significantly decrease from day 0 (673±165 vs. 449±109 kJ, p=0.112). However, on day 14 the ΔHb was significantly reduced compared to day 0 (363±64 vs. 673±165 kJ, p=0.04). These data suggest that 14 days is necessary to achieve sufficient heat acclimation to significantly reduce heat storage during exercise in the heat. Support: Deep Mining Research Consortium (Dr. Glen P. Kenny)

Sex differences in thermoeffector responses during exercise at fixed requirements for heat loss

To assess potential mechanisms responsible for the lower sudomotor thermosensitivity in women during exercise, we examined sex differences in sudomotor function and skin blood flow (SkBF) during exercise performed at progressive increases in the requirement for heat loss. Eight men and eight women cycled at rates of metabolic heat production of 200, 250, and 300 W/m(2) of body surface area, with each rate being performed sequentially for 30 min. The protocol was performed in a direct calorimeter to measure evaporative heat loss (EHL) and in a thermal chamber to measure local sweat rate (LSR) (ventilated capsule), SkBF (laser-Doppler), sweat gland activation (modified iodine-paper technique), and sweat gland output (SGO) on the back, chest, and forearm. Despite a similar requirement for heat loss between the sexes, significantly lower increases in EHL and LSR were observed in women (P ≤ 0.001). Sex differences in EHL and LSR were not consistently observed during the first and second exercise periods, whereas EHL (348 ± 13 vs. 307 ± 9 W/m(2)) and LSR on the back (1.61 ± 0.07 vs. 1.20 ± 0.09 mg · min(-1) · cm(-2)), chest (1.33 ± 0.06 vs. 1.08 ± 0.09 mg · min(-1) · cm(-2)), and forearm (1.53 ± 0.07 vs. 1.20 ± 0.06 mg · min(-1) · cm(-2), men vs. women) became significantly greater in men during the last exercise period (P < 0.05). At each site, differences in LSR were solely due to a greater SGO in men, as opposed to differences in sweat gland activation. In contrast, no sex differences in SkBF were observed throughout the exercise period. The present study demonstrates that sex differences in sudomotor function are only evidenced beyond a certain requirement for heat loss, solely through differences in SGO. In contrast, the lower EHL and LSR in women are not paralleled by a lower SkBF response.

Effect of heating rate on evaporative heat loss in the microwave-exposed mouse.

Male CBA/J mice were administered heat loads of 0-28 J X g-1 at specific absorption rates (SARs) of either 47 or 93 W X kg-1 by exposure to 2,450-MHz microwave radiation at an ambient temperature of 30 degrees C while evaporative heat loss (EHL) was continuously monitored with dew-point hygrometry. At an SAR of 47 W X kg-1 a threshold heat load of 10.5 J X g-1 had to be exceeded before EHL increased. An approximate doubling of SAR to 93 W X kg-1 reduced the threshold to 5.2 J X g-1. Above threshold the slopes of the regression lines were 1.15 and 0.929 for the low- and high-SAR groups, respectively. Thus the difference in threshold and not slope attributes to the significant increase in EHL when mice are exposed at a high SAR (P less than 0.02). In separate experiments a SAR of 47 W X kg-1 raised the deep body temperature of anesthetized mice at a rate of 0.026 degrees C X s-1, whereas 93 W X kg-1 raised temperature at 0.049 degrees C X s-1. Hence the sensitivity of the EHL mode of heat dissipation is directly proportional to the rate of heat absorption and to the rate of rise in body temperature. These data contradict the notion that mammals have control over whole-body heat exchange only (i.e., thermoregulation) but instead indicate that the EHL system is highly responsive to the rate of heat absorption (i.e., temperature regulation).

Effects of forced convection of heated air on insensible water loss and heat loss in preterm infants in incubators

To assess the effect of forced convection of heated air exchange in preterm infants in conventional incubators, we measured insensible water loss and total heat loss in preterm infants in a conventional forced convection incubator (air velocity 15 to 25 cm/second) and in a specially constructed still-air incubator (air velocity 0 to 2 cm/second) at equal operative temperature and humidity. Under the forced conditions, insensible water loss in the preterm infants increased by a mean 52% from 1.04 +/- 0.24 (mean +/- SD) to 1.58 +/- 0.51 ml/kg/hour (P less than 0.001). The ensuing increase in evaporative heat loss was partly reflected in the small but significant increase in total heat loss from 1.65 +/- 0.47 to 1.80 +/- 0.44 kcal/kg/hour (P less than 0.02). In the forced convection incubator, the increased evaporative heat loss in preterm infants was apparently partly compensated by a decreased nonevaporative heat loss. If reduction of insensible water loss is required, preterm infants should not be subjected to forced convection in incubators.

Cardiovascular and sweating responses to water ingestion during dehydration.

The experiments reported are concerned with cardiovascular and sudomotor events preceding, accompanying, and following ingestion of water by five dehydrating subjects 8.75 hr after entrance into a heat chamber (43.3 C DB, 29 C WB). Certain skin areas such as the cheek showed increases in evaporative heat loss before subjects came in contact with water. This reflex could be initiated by saline ingestion but the degree of skin and oral temperature changes appeared to depend on tonicity of fluid ingested. The gustatory reflex was not thought to be the initiating agent for sudomotor responses. Increases in cutaneous blood flow appeared to begin almost as promptly as sweating responses but took considerably longer to develop. Ingestion of saline, though initiating a sweating response, did not alter heart rate, blood pressure, or cutaneous blood flow. It is suggested that fluid ingestion, regardless of tonicity, triggers reflex sweating over the body surface. Intensity and duration of this sudomotor response, as well as initiation of cardiovascular changes, apparently depend on tonicity of ingested fluid. cutaneous blood flow; skin temperature; regional sweating Submitted on November 27, 1964