Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2015 Jan;19(1):9-14. 10.4196/kjpp.2015.19.1.9.

Seasonal Acclimatization in Summer versus Winter to Changes in the Sweating Response during Passive Heating in Korean Young Adult Men

• Lee JB
• Kim TW
• Min YK
• Yang HM

• KMID: 2071813
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2015.19.1.9

Abstract

We investigated the sweating response during passive heating (partial submersion up to the umbilical line in 42+/-0.5degrees C water, 30 min) after summer and winter seasonal acclimatization (SA). Testing was performed in July during the summer, 2011 [summer-SA; temp, 25.6+/-1.8degrees C; relative humidity (RH), 82.1+/-8.2%] and in January during the winter, 2012 (winter-SA; temp, -2.7+/-2.9degrees C; RH, 65.0+/-13.1%) in Cheonan (126degrees52'N, 33.38'E), Republic of Korea. All experiments were carried out in an automated climatic chamber (temp, 25.0+/-0.5degrees C: RH, 60.0+/-3.0%). Fifteen healthy men (age, 23.4+/-2.5 years; height, 175.0+/-5.9 cm; weight, 65.3+/-6.1 kg) participated in the study. Local sweat onset time was delayed during winter-SA compared to that after summer-SA (p< 0.001). Local sweat volume, whole body sweat volume, and evaporative loss volume decreased significantly after winter-SA compared to those after summer-SA (p<0.001). Changes in basal metabolic rate increased significantly after winter-SA (p< 0.001), and tympanic temperature and mean body temperature were significantly lower after summer-SA (p<0.05). In conclusion, central sudomotor acitivity becomes sensitive to summer-SA and blunt to winter-SA in Rebubic of Korea. These results suggest that the body adjusts its temperature by economically controlling the sweating rate but does not lower the thermal dissipation rate through a more effective evaporation scheme after summer-SA than that after winter-SA.

Keyword

Mean body temperature; Passive heating; Seasonal acclimatization; Sweat onset time; Tympanic temperature

MeSH Terms

Acclimatization*
Basal Metabolism
Body Temperature
Chungcheongnam-do
Heating*
Hot Temperature*
Humans
Humidity
Immersion
Korea
Male
Republic of Korea
Seasons*
Sweat*
Sweating*
Water
Young Adult*
Water

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Monthly mean daily average ambient temperatures from July 2011 to January 2012 in Cheonan (126°52'N, 33.38'E) Republic of Korea. Cheonan is located in a temperate zone (four distinct geopolitical seasons). Monthly mean daily average ambient temperature during the experimental period from July 20, 2011 (Exp 1) to January 20, 2012 (Exp 2). Exp 1, experiment 1 summer (July 2011; temperature, 25.6±1.8℃ relative humidity, 82.1±8.2%) and Exp 2, experiment 2 winter (January. 2012; -2.7±2.9℃ relative humidity, 65±13.1%).

• 

  Fig. 2 Basal metabolic rate of summer-SA and winter-SA. Values are mean±standard deviation. Statistical significance was set at ***p<0.001. SA, seasonal acclimatization; summer-SA, July 2011 (temperature, 25.6±1.8℃; relative humidity, 82.1±8.2%); winter-SA, January 2012 (temperature, -2.7±2.9℃; relative humidity, 65±13.1%).

• 

  Fig. 3 Local sweat onset time of summer-SA and winter-SA during passive heating. Values are mean±standard deviation. Statistically significant differences were set at ***p<0.001. SA, seasonal acclimatization; summer-SA, July 2011 (temperature, 25.6±1.8℃; relative humidity, 82.1±8.2%); winter-SA, January 2012 (temperature, -2.7±2.9℃; relative humidity, 65±13.1%); passive heating, half bath into hot water, 42±0.5℃ for 30 min.

• 

  Fig. 4 Local sweat volume during passive heating. Values are mean±standard deviation. Statistically significant differences were set at ***p<0.001. SA, seasonal acclimatization; summer-SA, July 2011 (temperature, 25.6±1.8℃; relative humidity, 82.1±8.2%); winter-SA, January 2012 (temperature, -2.7±2.9℃; relative humidity, 65±13.1%); passive heating, half bath into hot water, 42±0.5℃ for 30 min.

• 

  Fig. 5 Volume of skin evaporative loss volume (evaporative rate) during passive heating. Values are mean±standard deviation. Statistically significant differences were set at ***p<0.001. SA, seasonal acclimatization; summer-SA, July 2011 (temperature, 25.6±1.8℃; relative humidity, 82.1±8.2%); winter-SA, January 2012 (temperature, -2.7±2.9℃; relative humidity, 65±13.1%); passive heating, half bath into hot water, 42±0.5℃ for 30 min.

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