The cutaneous vasoconstrictor response in lower extremities during whole-body and local skin cooling in young women with a cold constitution

• Published in: The journal of physiological sciences Vol. 65; no. 5; pp. 397 - 405
• Main Author: Yamazaki, Fumio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer Japan 01-09-2015
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Adolescent; Age Factors; Blood Flow Velocity; Body Temperature Regulation; Cold Temperature; Female; Humans; Iontophoresis; Lower Extremity; Norepinephrine - administration & dosage; Original Paper; Phenotype; Regional Blood Flow; Sex Factors; Skin - blood supply; Skin Temperature; Time Factors; Vasoconstriction - drug effects; Vasoconstrictor Agents - administration & dosage; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1880-6546; 1880-6562
• DOI: 10.1007/s12576-015-0378-3

To clarify the characteristics of the thermal control of skin blood flow (SkBF) in individuals with a cold constitution, we examined the cutaneous vasoconstrictor responses in the calf and dorsal foot during whole-body and local skin cooling in young women complaining of chilliness (C group) and young women not suffering from it (N group). During whole-body skin cooling, the vasoconstrictor sensitivity in the dorsal foot, but not in the calf, was greater in the C group than in the N group. The C group also showed greater vasoconstrictor responses in the dorsal foot, but not in the calf, during local skin cooling and the iontophoretic application of norepinephrine. These findings suggest that the C group possesses a specific SkBF controlling system that is characterized by higher adrenergic sensitivity for greater cutaneous vasoconstriction in the distal portion of the lower extremities during cold exposure.