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Different adaptations of Chinese winter-over expeditioners during prolonged Antarctic and sub-Antarctic residence

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Abstract

Prolonged residence in Antarctica is characterized by exposure to isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environment. Winter-over expeditioners at research stations often exhibit a complex of psychophysiological symptoms, which varied by stations and sociocultural backgrounds. To understand the different patterns of psychophysiological responses provoked by environmental stress, we conducted a longitudinal assessment of mood and endocrine function in two groups of Chinese expeditioners who were deployed to sub-Antarctic (Great Wall Station, 62°S, N = 12) and Antarctic (Zhongshan Station, 66°S, N = 16) from December 2003 to 2005. Measures of mood, thyroid function, the levels of plasma catecholamine, and circulating interleukins were obtained at departure from China, mid-winter (Antarctica), end of winter (Antarctica), and return to China, respectively. The Zhongshan Station crew experienced significant increases in fatigue, anger, tension, confusion, and decrease in free thyroxine (FT4), norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine (E) during the winter, increase in thyrotropin (TSH) and total triiodothyronine (TT3) when returning, whereas their counterparts at Great Wall Station only experienced increased TT3 after deployment. Moreover, compared with the Great Wall Station crew, the Zhongshan Station crew exhibited greater increase in anger, greater decrease in FT4, total thyroxine (TT4), NE and E over the winter, and greater increase in TSH when returning. Chinese expeditioners who lived and worked at the Antarctic station and the sub-Antarctic station for over a year showed different change patterns in mood and endocrine hormones. Negative mood and endocrine dysfunction were positively associated with the severity of environment. The study is a supplement to scientific knowledge on psychophysiological variation under ICE environment, which has certain applied value for the development of preventive countermeasures or interventions.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30370537) and Chinese Polar Environment Comprehensive Investigation and Assessment Programs (CHINARE 02-01). The authors acknowledge the cooperation of the 20th Chinese winter-over expeditioners at both Great Wall Station and Zhongshan Station, and also acknowledge the support of Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration and Polar Research institute of China.

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Correspondence to Chengli Xu.

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Chen, N., Wu, Q., Li, H. et al. Different adaptations of Chinese winter-over expeditioners during prolonged Antarctic and sub-Antarctic residence. Int J Biometeorol 60, 737–747 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1069-8

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