Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of change in ambient temperature on core temperature of female subjects during the daytime and its sex differences

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Tympanic temperature (Tty), skin temperature, and regional dry heat loss were measured continuously in eight female subjects under three conditions: (1) stepwise increases in ambient temperature (Ta) from 26 °C at 09:00 to 30 °C at 18:00, (2) steady Ta at 28 °C from 09:00 to 18:00, and (3) stepwise decreases in Ta from 30 °C at 09:00 to 26 °C at 18:00. Oxygen consumption, body weight loss, thermal sensation, and comfort levels were periodically recorded. The Tty increased significantly (p < 0.01) from 36.1 ± 0.36 °C to 36.6 ± 0.23 °C at 18:00 under condition 1 but remained virtually unchanged under conditions 2 and 3. Thermal comfort was observed at 15:00 and 17:00 under condition 3, whereas subjects reported that they felt slightly cool at 15:00. The rate of body heat storage (S), changes in Tty, mean skin temperature (\( \overline{T} \)sk), and mean body temperature during each period were calculated, and confirmed that changes in \( \overline{T} \)sk was correlated with S. Diurnal changes in core temperature (Tc) appeared to be more dependent on diurnal rhythm than on changes in Ta, except when Ta increased continuously. Thus, it may be difficult to predict diurnal changes in women’s Tc using a body-heat-balance equation during thermal transient.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Berglund, L. G., 2001. Thermal comfort, in Baird, J. (ed.) 2001 ASHERAE handbook: fundamentals, American Soc. heating, Refrigerating & air-conditioning Eng., Inc., Atlanta, 8.1–8.29

  • Ciuha U, Mekjavic IB (2016) Regional thermal comfort zone in male and females. Physiol Behav 161:123–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ciuha U, Mekjavic IB (2017) Thermal comfort zone of the hands, feet and head in males and females. Physiol Behav 179:427–433

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerrett N, Ouzzahra Y, Redortier B, Voelcker T, Havenith G (2015) Female thermal sensitivity to hot and cold during rest and exercise. Physiol Behav 152:11–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Golja P, Tipton MJ, Mekjavic IB (2003) Cutaneous thermal thresholds—the reproducibility of their measurements and the effect of gender. J Therm Biol 28:341–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grivel F, Candas V (1991) Ambient temperatures preferred by young European males and females at rest. Ergonomics 34:365–378

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hardy JD, DuBois EF (1938) The technic of measuring radiation and convection. J Nutr 15:461–475

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inoue Y, Ogura K, Asami S, Ueda H, Ishuyubi H, Shirataki M, Kondo T (2000) Gender difference and menstrual cycle on skin blood flow in the heat. Proc Jpn Soc Phys Fit Sports Med 49:899 (Written in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kakitsuba N, Mekjavic IB (2018) Diurnal variation in the core interthreshold zone in women and its sex difference. Int Physiol J:26–37. https://doi.org/10.14302/issn.2578-8590.ipj-18-2078

  • Kakitsuba N, White MD (2013) Effect of change in ambient temperature on core temperature during the daytime. Int J Biometeorol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-013-0673-8

  • Karjalainen S (2007) Gender differences in thermal comfort use of thermostats in everyday thermal environments. Build Environ 42:1594–1603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurazumi Y, Horikoshi T, Tsuchikawa T, Matsubara M (1994) A study on Japanese body surface area. J Jpn Biometeorol 31:5–29 (Abstract in English)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Wu Y, Lei D, Li B (2018) Gender differences in physiological and psychological responses to the thermal environment with varying clothing ensembles. Build Environ 141:45–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maykot JK, Rupp RF, Ghisi E (2018) Assessment of gender on requirements for thermal comfort in office buildings in Brazilian humid subtropical climate. Energy Build 158:1170–1183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morimoto T, Slabochova Z, Naman RK, Sargent F (1967) Sex differences in physiological reactions to thermal stress. J Appl Physiol 22:526–532

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rohles FH Jr, Nevins RG (1971) The nature of thermal comfort for sedentary man. ASHRAE Trans 77:239

    Google Scholar 

  • Schellena L, Loomansa MGLC, de Wita MH, Olesen BW, van Marken Lichtenbelt WD (2012) The influence of local effects on thermal sensation under non-uniform environmental conditions - gender differences in thermophysiology, thermal comfort and productivity during convective and radiant cooling. Physiol Behav 107:252–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwiening CJ, Mason MJ, Thompson M (2011) Absolute power, not sex, promotes perspiration. Exp Physiol 96(5):556–558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shanahan TL, Czeisler CA (1984) Light induces equivalent phase of the endogenous circadian rhythms of circulating plasma melatonin and core body temperature in men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 73:227–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens GH, Graham TE, Wilson BA (1987) Gender differences in cardiovascular and metabolic responses to cold and exercise, can. J Physiol Pharmacol 65:165–171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stolwijk JA, Hardy JD (1966) Partitional calorimetric studies of responses of man to thermal transients. J Appl Physiol 21:967–977

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ugursal A, Culp C (2013) Gender differences of thermal comfort perception under transient environmental and metabolic conditions. ASHRAE Trans 119:52–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner JA, Horvath SM (1985) Influences of age and gender on human thermoregulatory responses to cold exposures. J Appl Physiol 58:180–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weir JBV (1949) New methods for calculation metabolic rate with special references to protein metabolism. J Physiol 109(1–2):1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiong J, Lian Z, Zhou X, You J, Lin Y (2015) Investigation of gender difference in human response to temperature step changes. Physiol Behav 151:426–440

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by the Research Center for Future Standards of Living Environments, Meijo University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Meijo University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

    Naoshi Kakitsuba

Authors
  1. Naoshi Kakitsuba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Naoshi Kakitsuba.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kakitsuba, N. Effect of change in ambient temperature on core temperature of female subjects during the daytime and its sex differences. Int J Biometeorol 63, 1069–1076 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-019-01721-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-019-01721-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation