Thermoregulation After Atropine and Pralidoxime Administration,
Abstract
The effects of intramuscular saline (control), atropine (2mg), pralidoxime (600 mg) or a combination of the two drugs on heat exchange was evaluated in four healthy males during moderately intense seated, cycle exercise (55% v02 peak) in a temperate environment (T sub a = 30.3 C, P sub W = 1.0 kPa). Esophageal, rectal, and mean skin temperatures, and chest and forearm sweating were continuously measured. Skin blood flow (FBF) from the forearm was measured twice each minute by venous occulusion plethysmography. Whole body sweating was calculated from weight changes. The expected result of atropine injection, decreased eccrine sweating (-60%, P 0.05) with ensuent elevated esophageal (+0.4C, P<0.05) and skin temperature (+2.1C, P<0.05) was observed relative to control. Heart rate (+28 b/min) and FBF (+9 ml/100cc) were higher after atropine. Pralidoxime, in general, did not affect the core and skin temperature responses to the exercise differently from control; however, a slightly elevated FBF (+3ml/100cc min, 33%) compensated for the reduction in whole body sweating (-45%, p<0.05) that we observed. The combination of the drugs resulted in significantly higher esophageal (0.4C) and skin (0.9C) temperatures than atropine alone, as has been previously shown. The thermoregulatory disadvantage of inhibited sweating by atropine was partially compensated for by enhanced skin blood flow in this environment where T sub a>T sub sk. Pralidoxime was shown to decrease whole body sweating, by a mechanism as yet unexplained. Keywords: Anticholinergics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA165868
Entities
People
- Bruce S. Cadarette
- Lou A. Stephenson
- Margaret A. Kolka
- Richard R. Gonzalez
- Stephen P. Bruttig
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine