Transdermal iontophoretic application of l-NAME is available in sweating research induced by heat stress in young healthy adults.

Iontophoretic transdermal administration of NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride [l-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor] has been used as a non-invasive evaluation of NOS-dependent mechanisms in human skin. However, the availability has yet to be investigated in sweating research. Prior observations using invasive techniques (e.g., intradermal microdialysis technique) to administer l-NAME have implicated that NOS reduces sweating induced by heat stress but rarely influences the response induced by the administration of cholinergic muscarinic receptor agonists. Therefore, we investigated whether the transdermal iontophoretic administration of l-NAME modulates sweating similar to those prior observations. Twenty young healthy adults (10 males, 10 females) participated in two experimental protocols on separate days. Before each protocol, saline (control) and 1% l-NAME were bilaterally administered to the forearm skin via transdermal iontophoresis. In protocol 1, 0.001% and 1% pilocarpine were iontophoretically administered at l-NAME-treated and untreated sites. In protocol 2, passive heating was applied by immersing the lower limbs in hot water (43 °C) until the rectal temperature increased by 0.8 °C above baseline. The sweat rate was continuously measured throughout both protocols. Pilocarpine-induced sweat rate was not significantly different between the control and l-NAME-treated sites in both pilocarpine concentrations (P ≥ 0.316 for the treatment effect and interaction of treatment and pilocarpine concentration). The sweat rate during passive heating was attenuated at the l-NAME-treated site relative to the control (treatment effect, P = 0.020). Notably, these observations are consistent with prior sweating studies administrating l-NAME into human skin using intradermal microdialysis techniques. Based on the similarity of our results with already known observations, we conclude that transdermal iontophoresis of l-NAME is a valid non-invasive technique for the investigation of the mechanisms of sweating related to NOS during heat stress.

Effects of ingestion of isomaltulose beverage on plasma volume and thermoregulatory responses during exercise in the heat.

PURPOSE: Isomaltulose is a low glycemic and insulinaemic carbohydrate increasingly used as an alternative sweetener in commercial beverages. While isomaltulose beverages can improve hydration status compared to sucrose-based beverages, it remains unclear if ingestion of an isomaltulose beverage prior to exercise in the heat may improve plasma volume (PV) and thermoregulatory responses. METHODS: Twelve endurance-trained men consumed a 1L carbohydrate beverage containing either 6.5%-sucrose (SUC) or 6.5%-isomaltulose (ISO) 60 min prior to 5 successive, 15-min bouts of moderate-intensity (60% of their pre-determined maximum oxygen uptake) in the heat (32 °C, 50% relative humidity), each separated by a 5 min rest. A 6th bout was performed, wherein the participant adjusted running speed to maximize distance covered within the 15-min period. The change (Δ) in PV, heart rate (HR), body core (rectal and gastrointestinal) and skin temperatures, and whole-body sweat loss were assessed during each exercise bout. RESULTS: Ingestion of ISO induced a higher ΔPV at 4th bout only (P < 0.001) and lower HR (P = 0.032, main effect of beverage) during exercise compared to those of SUC. Body core and skin temperatures and whole-body sweat loss did not differ between conditions (all P ≥ 0.192, interaction effect). Running distance covered in final exercise bout tended to increase (~ 5%) in ISO versus SUC (P = 0.057, d = 0.64). CONCLUSIONS: Relative to a sucrose-based beverage, ISO ingestion prior to exercise in the heat reduced cardiovascular strain by preserving PV and attenuating HR, albeit with no corresponding benefit on thermoregulatory function. The former response may facilitate improvements in exercise performance.

Influence of Heat Exposure on Motor Control Performance and Learning as Well as Physiological Responses to Visuomotor Accuracy Tracking Task.

This study aimed to determine whether heat exposure attenuates motor control performance and learning, and blunts cardiovascular and thermoregulatory responses to visuomotor accuracy tracking (VAT) tasks. Twenty-nine healthy young adults (22 males) were divided into two groups performing VAT tasks (5 trials × 10 blocks) in thermoneutral (NEUT: 25 °C, 45% RH, n = 14) and hot (HOT: 35 °C, 45% RH, n = 15) environments (acquisition phase). One block of the VAT task was repeated at 1, 2, and 4 h after the acquisition phase (retention phase). Heat exposure elevated skin temperature to ~3 °C with a marginally increased core body temperature. VAT performance (error distance of curve tracking) was more attenuated overall in HOT than in NEUT in the acquisition phase without improvement in magnitude alteration. Heat exposure did not affect VAT performance in the retention phase. The mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate, but not for sweating and cutaneous vascular responses to VAT acquisition trials, were more attenuated in HOT than in NEUT without any retention phase alternations. We conclude that skin temperature elevation exacerbates motor control performance and blunts cardiovascular response during the motor skill acquisition period. However, these alternations are not sustainable thereafter.