Heat acclimation affects circulating levels of prostaglandin E2, COX-2 and orexin in humans

We examined serum levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and orexin before and after heat acclimation (HA) to test the hypothesis that decreased basal body temperature due to HA correlate with circulating levels of these key thermoregulatory molecules. Nine healthy human male volunteers were recruited (age, 21.9±2.7 years). The subjects were exposed to half-body immersion in hot water (42±0.5°C) at the same time of day (2-5p.m.) on alternate days for 3 weeks. The HA protocol included 10 bouts of 30min immersion. All experiments were performed in an automated climate chamber (temperature, 26.0±0.5°C; relative humidity, 60±3.0%; air velocity