HUMAN SYMPATHOADRENAL RESPONSIVENESS IN AUTUMN, WINTER, AND SPRING,
Abstract
By use of urinary catecholamine determinations, sympathoadrenal activity levels were appraised in 231 healthy human subjects over three seasons (autumn, winter, and spring), with the subjects tested at thermoneutrality. Significant varia tion with season (P < .01) was found for epineph rine and norepinephrine output and for the norep inephrine/epinephrine ratio. The latter measure provided the most clear-cut seasonal variation and indicated that sympathoadrenal activity was lowest in autumn, highest in winter, and at an intermediate level in spring. Norepinephrine ap pears to be the dominant catecholamine in winter. Smokers had higher epinephrine values than did nonsmokers; and when the factor of anxiety was added, it tended to act as an intensifier, bring ing out the change in responsiveness in the cool er seasons. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0417650
Entities
People
- Henry B. Hale
- Ralph P. Feller
Organizations
- United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine