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Skin temperature modulation of shivering response in humans
Author(s) -
Imbeault Marie-Andree,
Mantha Olivier Landry,
Haman François
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.1079.16
Subject(s) - shivering , thermoreceptor , thermogenesis , thermoregulation , skin temperature , core temperature , chemistry , radiant heat , medicine , zoology , anesthesia , biology , materials science , dermatology , adipose tissue , receptor , composite material
During cold exposure, increase in heat production is produced via the activation of shivering thermogenesis and nonshivering thermogenesis, the former being the main contributor to compensatory heat production in non‐acclimatized humans. In rats, it has been shown that shivering thermogenesis is modulated solely by skin thermoreceptors. The aim of this study was to determine if cold‐induced shivering is also principally modulated by cutaneous thermoreceptors in humans. Using a liquid‐conditioned suit, six non‐acclimatized men were exposed to cold (4ºC) for four 30‐min periods, each of them separated by 15 min of heat exposure (35ºC). Core temperature remained stable throughout exposures. Skin temperatures significantly decreased by 12% in average during the sequential cold/heat exposures compared to baseline (p<0.001). Shivering intensity increased significantly during cold exposures (3.3 ± 0.7 % MVC) and was significantly reduced during the heat exposures (0.5 ± 0.1 %MVC) (p=0.004). Accordingly, metabolic rate was significantly higher during cold exposures (0.40 ±0.0 LO 2 /min) compared to heat exposures (0.25 ± 0.0 LO 2 /min) (p=0.0003). In conclusion, cutaneous thermoreceptors are a major modulator of shivering in humans. This study was funded by NSERC.