Heat Exchange After Atropine and Pralidoxime Administration
Abstract
This report summarizes a tightly controlled laboratory study in which the effects of intramuscular saline (control), atropine (2 mg), and/or pralidoxime (600 mg) on heat exchange were evaluated in four healthy males during seated, cycle exercise in a temperate environment. Esophageal, reactal, and mean skin temperature, and chest and forearm sweating were continuously measured. Skin blood flow (FBF) from the forearm was measured twice each minute by venous occlusion plethysmography. Whole body sweating was calculated from weight changes. Atropine injection, decreased eccrine sweating and elevated esophageal and skin temperatures. Heart rate and FBF 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 compensated for the reduction in whole body sweating. The combination of the drugs resulted in significantly higher esophageal and skin temperatures than atropine alone. The thermoregulatory disadvantage of inhibited sweating by atropine was partially compensated for the by enhanced skin blood flow in this environment. Pralidoxime was shown to decrease whole body sweating by a mechanism as yet unexplained.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA179988
Entities
People
- Bruce S. Cadarette
- Lou A. Stephenson
- Margaret A. Kolka
- Richard R. Gonzalez
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine