Lowering of body temperature affects human platelet functions and norepinephrine release.

The effect of lowering body temperature on plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, and platelet density distribution and volume was studied in a placebo-controlled double-blind study. Lowering of body core temperature was induced by either exposure to a cold environment at a temperature of 5 degrees C (CT) or by a single dose of the 5-HT1A agonist ipsapirone (IPS). A third group exposed to an ambient temperature of 28 degrees C was given placebo (PLAC). All of the three groups were investigated in a climate chamber. In the CT group the density distribution of blood platelet subpopulations was shifted to an increase in less dense platelets that were more sensitive towards aggregation-inducing agents. The mean platelet volume in this subpopulation was decreased. Epinephrine was not affected, whereas the increase of norepinephrine was correlated with an increase of platelets that were more sensitive to aggregation-inducing agents in the CT group but not in the PLAC and IPS groups.

Biopsychological changes after bungee jumping: beta-endorphin immunoreactivity as a mediator of euphoria?

A study on 12 novice bungee jumpers was performed to investigate the influence of acute psychological stress on levels of cortisol in saliva, beta-endorphin immunoreactivity as well as the number of leukocytes in peripheral blood. In addition, heart rate and blood pressure as well as ratings on emotional states were recorded. Furthermore, correlations between ratings on mood and biochemical stress markers were computed. As expected, subjective ratings on anxiety were increased prior to the jump and were markedly reduced after the jump. Salivary cortisol was also increased after the jump and decreased to baseline within the next hour. In contrast, ratings on euphoria increased markedly after performing the jump and remained highly elevated for the next 30 min. An increase of more than 200% in beta-endorphin immunoreactivity after the jump was observed. In contrast to levels of cortisol, the concentration of beta-endorphin recorded immediately after the jump was significantly correlated with ratings on euphoria obtained at subsequent measurements indicating a relationship between beta-endorphins and euphoria. Additional increase of the number of blood leukocytes and of heart rate and blood pressure indicate that various systems of the organism are markedly affected by the exceptional eustress of bungee jumping.

Immune cell and cortisol responses to physically and pharmacologically induced lowering of body core temperature.

In a placebo-controlled double-blind study described by Rammsayer and co-workers in this volume, we investigated the influence of decreased body core temperature (BCT) on responses of cortisol and the immune system. As described in the first paper, the decrease in BCT was achieved by: (a) exposure to ambient cold temperature of 5 degrees C for 20 min (CT group), or (b) application of a 5HT-1a agonist under normal temperature conditions (5HT group). A third group serving as control was exposed to normal temperature and placebo (NT group). The decrease of BCT seen in both CT and 5HT was accompanied by an increase in cortisol. This seemed to be due to stress experience in the CT group and to the pharmacological challenge in the 5HT group. The number of peripheral CD4+ cells was reduced in both experimental groups. This was not mediated by decreased BCT. In the CT group the reduction of CD4+ cells showed no relationship to changes in cortisol. However, in the 5HT group cortisol could be demonstrated to be the mediator of changes in peripheral CD4+ cells.