RESUMEN
The present study was attempted to examine whether the cold-induced vasodilation is affected by maturation and aging. Twelve prepubertal boys (10-11 yrs), 15 young men (18-26 yrs), and 8 older men (66-78 yrs) immersed their middle finger in ice-water for 15 min under air condition of 27°C and 40% RH. Before the immersion, no age-related differences were observed in skin temperature of middle finger (T<SUB>fin</SUB>) . The time required for the first rise of T<SUB>fin</SUB> after the immersion (TTR) was significantly longer in the older men than in the boys and young men. T<SUB>fin</SUB> at the first rise after the immersion (TFR), highest value of Tfin after the first rise (HST) and the mean value of T<SUB>fin</SUB> during the immersion (MST) were significantly lower in the boys than in the young men. The integral value of T<SUB>fin</SUB> from the onset of cold-induced vasodilation to the end of the immersion (CIVD<SUB>index</SUB>) was significantly lower in the boys and older men than in the young men. TTR, TFR, HST, MST, and CIVD<SUB>ifldex</SUB> did not correlate significantly with maximal oxygen uptake, mean skinfold thicknesses at seven body sites, and length and girth of the middle finger. Oral temperature (Tor) did not change between before and after the immersion regardless of age, although the Tar in the boys was significantly higher than in the young and older men. There were no age differences in the relationship of thermal sensation or pain sensation and T<SUB>fin</SUB>. These results suggest that boys and older men have inferior cold-induced vasodilation compared to young men, and that the mechanisms of inferior cold-induced vasodilation are different in these two groups.