UDC

612.017.2+612.821.33+612.17

DOI

10.37482/2542-1298-Z002

Authors

Denis B. Demin* ORCID: 0000-0001-7912-9226
Elena V. Krivonogova* ORCID: 0000-0003-4225-5872
Ol’ga V. Krivonogova* ORCID: 0000-0002-7267-8836
Liliya V. Poskotinova* ORCID: 0000-0002-7537-0837
Irina N. Gorenko* ORCID: 0000-0003-3097-9427
Viktoriya A. Popkova* ORCID: 0000-0002-0818-7274
*N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Russian Academy of Sciences (Arkhangelsk, Russian Federation)
Corresponding author: Denis Demin, address: prosp. Lomonosova 249, Arkhangelsk, 163000, Russian Federation; e-mail: denisdemin@mail.ru

Abstract

This paper studied the dynamics of salivary cortisol level and parameters of the cardiovascular system in 30 healthy male volunteers aged 18–20 years, depending on the stage of hypothermia during experimental whole-body cooling. The subjects were divided into two equal groups – with moderate and mild hypothermia – according to the body temperature median (34.1 ºС) in the total sample during cooling. The experiment included three 10-minute stages: at rest at the temperature of +20 ºС, in a cold chamber at –20 ºС, and warming at +20 ºС. During each stage of the study, heart rate, blood pressure, heart rate variability, and temperature in the ear canal were recorded; saliva samples were taken to determine free cortisol levels. It was shown that during cooling, the body temperature of the subjects significantly decreased by an average of 1.5–2.7 ºС. During cooling, both groups demonstrated a decrease in salivary cortisol levels, stress index, and heart rate, as well as an increase in total heart rate variability power and blood pressure. During warming, cardiovascular indices tended to baseline, while salivary cortisol levels continued to decline. Subjects with moderate hypothermia (33.4 °C) showed a less pronounced baroreflex response (a slight decrease in heart rate), accompanied by a more pronounced vascular response (a significant increase in blood pressure) and a significant decrease in salivary cortisol levels by the end of the study. In individuals with mild hypothermia (34.8 °C) we observed a more pronounced baroreflex in the form of a significant decrease in heart rate in response to an increase in blood pressure. A decrease in salivary cortisol in combination with cold-induced hypertension and greater vagal effects on the heart rhythm may indicate a more successful adaptation of the body to cold.
For citation: Demin D.B., Krivonogova E.V., Krivonogova O.V., Poskotinova L.V., Gorenko I.N., Popkova V.A. Changes in Salivary Cortisol Level at Cardiovascular Response to Whole-Body Cold Exposure. Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 2020, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 121–131. DOI: 10.37482/2542-1298-Z002

Keywords

salivary cortisol, blood pressure, heart rate variability, whole-body cold air exposure, hypothermia

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