Local and Systemic Adaptation to Topical Cold Exposure

¹ From the Applied Physiology Branch, Directorate of Medical Research, Chemical Warfare Laboratories, Army Chemical Center, Maryland

Eight consecutive exposures of the hand in five men to a cold water bath (3°C) for 7 minutes failed to show alterations in the increased systolic pressure observed with this test. However, the fall in blood pressure below the pretest value, observed on withdrawal of the hand from the cold bath, gradually disappeared. This adaptation after eight exposures of the left hand is attributed to systemic changes, since the effect persisted when on the ninth exposure the right hand was used instead of the left. When in four men the circulation to the exposed hand was occluded, the fall in pressure from the cold-induced elevation was delayed. It is therefore postulated that the exposure hand liberates a substance that contributes to the fall in pressure. The evidence of other workers suggests this is a histamine-like substance. Adaptation, then, would consist of an antagonism to the histamine-like substance. A local adaptation has also been observed consisting of a decrease in the time required for the first appearance of the cold-induced vasodilatation in the exposed hand, as measured by temperature changes.

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