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During increased gravitoinertial (G) load in the head-to-foot direction, pressures in dependent vascular beds are commonly raised to levels capable of distending precapillary vessels, which, in turn, may reduce arterial pressure, and hence compromise the capacity to withstand G load (G tolerance). We hypothesized that distensibility in precapillary leg vessels would be lower in a group of subjects possessing high G tolerance (H; n = 7; relaxed G tolerance = 6.6 ± 0.8 G) than in a group with low G tolerance (L; n = 8; G tolerance = 3.9 ± 0.3 G). The groups were matched with regard to gender, age, weight, height, and resting arterial pressure. Arterial pressure-distension and pressure-flow experiments were performed with the subject supine in a pressure chamber with a lower leg protruding to the outside. Increased intravascular pressure in the blood vessels of the outside leg was accomplished by stepwise increasing chamber pressure to 240 mmHg. Diameter and flow in the posterior tibial artery were measured by ultrasonographic/Doppler techniques. Pressure-induced increments in arterial diameter and flow were more pronounced (p < 0.03) in the L (14.1 ± 4.2% and 32 ± 21 ml/min respectively) than in the H (1.7 ± 5.0% and 1.6 ± 25 ml/min) group, and the pressure thresholds at which these increments commenced were lower (by 52 and 48 mmHg, respectively) in the L than in the H group (p < 0.04). Negative correlations were observed between G tolerance and the increments in diameter and flow (p < 0.02). Thus, the wall stiffness of precapillary leg vessels is greater in individuals with high relaxed G tolerance; whether a causal relationship exists remains to be established.

The zone of thermal comfort was determined during normoxia and hypoxia in 15 healthy normothermic young subjects. Subjects dressed only in shorts/shorts and bikini top donned a water-perfused suit and assumed a supine position on a bench. The ambient temperature was maintained at a mean (SD) of 25.7 (0.3) degrees C. The thermal comfort zone was determined by increasing the temperature of the water perfusing the suit from cool to warm. During the heating process, subjects were instructed to report when their perception of the thermal stimulus provided by the suit changed from unpleasant to pleasant, and again from pleasant to unpleasant. The boundaries of the thermal comfort zone were assumed to be the temperatures of the water perfusing the suit at the time the subjects reported a change in the affective component of their thermal perception. In normoxia, subjects inspired room air and in hypoxia a gas mixture containing 10% O(2) in N(2). Tympanic temperature was similar in the normoxia and hypoxia conditions (P>0.05). The average (SD) lower and upper limits of the thermal comfort zone were 30.5 (1.5) and 34.7 (3.3) degrees C, respectively, during normoxia, and 30.5 (1.7) and 35.1 (3.4) degrees C, respectively, during hypoxia. No significant differences were observed between the normoxia and hypoxia conditions (P>0.05). Also, no gender-related differences were observed in the characteristics of the thermal comfort zone. The results of the present study indicate that acute hypoxic exposure simulated in the present study does not affect the zone of thermal comfort in humans.

Previous findings of a narcosis-induced reduction in heat production during cold water immersion, as reflected in oxygen uptake (VO2), have been attributed to the attenuation of the shivering response. The possibility of reduced oxygen utilization (VO2) by the muscles could not, however, be excluded. Accordingly, the present study tested the hypothesis that mild narcosis, induced by inhalation of a normoxic gas mixture containing 30% nitrous oxide (N2O), would affect VO2. Nine male subjects participated in both maximal and submaximal exercise trials, inspiring either room air (AIR) or a normoxic mixture containing 30% N2O. In the submaximal trials, the subjects exercised at 50% of maximal exercise intensity (Wmax) as determined in the maximal AIR trial. Though the subjects attained the same Wmax in the AIR and N2O trials, maximal VO2 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) during the N2O condition [58.9 (SEM 3.1) ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)] compared to the AIR condition [55.0 (SEM 2.4) ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)]. However, the VO2-relative exercise intensity relationship was similar during both maximal AIR and maximal N2O at submaximal exercise intensities. There were no significant differences in the responses of oesophageal temperature, sweating rate, heart rate and ventilation between AIR and N2O in the maximal and submaximal tests. It was concluded that the previously reported narcosis-induced reductions in VO2 observed during cold water immersion can be attributed solely to a reduction in the shivering response rather than to decreased oxygen utilization by the muscles.