Total Body and Splanchnic Thermogenesis in Curarized Man During a Short Exposure to Cold

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Abstract
To investigate thermoregulation independent of muscular contractions in adult man during a short period of exposure to cold, 5 examinations were carried out on 4 individuals who were unconscious due to persistent brain damage and who were totally curarized during the exposure. An increase was found in total body O2 consumption of 0.043 mmol/kg per min (range: 0.038-0.049) or 25%, in plasma noradrenaline [norepinephrine] of 5.05 nmol/l (range: 2.48-6.73) or 132%, and in plasma non-esterified fatty acids of 0.6 mmol/l (range: 0.049-0.095) or 44%. No changes occurred in plasma adrenaline [epinephrine] or plasma glucose. Splanchnic O2 consumption increased and contributed significantly to that of the total body in only 1 of the 4 cases. Regulatory nonshivering thermogenesis apparently exists in adult humans who are not cold acclimatized. It is probably mediated by noradrenaline, and the major fuel substrate for the increased energy demand is the triglycerides from the fat stores. The splanchnic area contributes only irregularly and to a small degree to this part of thermogenesis.

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