Abstract
We investigated the impact of cold-water acclimation on whole-body fluid regulation using tracer-dilution methods to differentiate between the intracellular and extracellular fluid compartments. Seven euhydrated males [age 24.7 (8.7) years, mass 74.4 (6.4) kg, height 176.8 (7.8) cm, sum of eight skinfolds 107.4 (20.4) mm; mean (SD)] participated in a 14-day cold-water acclimation protocol, with 60-min resting cold-water stress tests [CWST; 18.1 (0.1)°C] on days 1, 8 and 15, and 90-min resting cold-water immersions [18.4 (0.4)°C] on intervening days. Subjects were immersed to the 4th intercostal space. Intracellular and extracellular fluid compartments, and plasma protein, electrolyte and hormone concentrations were investigated. During the first CWST, the intracellular fluid (5.5%) and plasma volumes were reduced (6.1%), while the interstitial fluid volume was simultaneously expanded (5.4%). This pattern was replicated on days 8 and 15, but did not differ significantly among test days. Acclimation did not produce significant changes in the pre-immersion distribution of total body water, or changes in plasma osmolality, total protein, electrolyte, atrial natriuretic peptide or aldosterone concentrations. Furthermore, a 14-day cold-water acclimation regimen did not elicit significant changes in body-fluid distribution, urine production, or the concentrations of plasma protein, electrolytes or the fluid-regulatory hormones. While acclimation trends were not evident, we have confirmed that fluid from extravascular cells is displaced into the interstitium during acute cold-water immersion, both before and after cold acclimation.
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Acknowledgements
This investigation complies with all current Australian laws that regulate human experimentation. The project was supported by the Naval Medical Research Institute (USA) and the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the US Government. J.M. Stocks was funded by ABSTUDY, Department of Employment, Education and Training, Australia. M.J. Patterson held a Post-Graduate Research Scholarship from the University of Wollongong, Australia. The authors would like to thank Olivier deHon, Lieske Hofland, Sheena McGhee and Kylie Mansfield for their technical assistance, and the subjects for participating in this project.
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Stocks, J.M., Patterson, M.J., Hyde, D.E. et al. Cold-water acclimation does not modify whole-body fluid regulation during subsequent cold-water immersion. Eur J Appl Physiol 92, 56–61 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1047-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1047-z