Atrial natriuretic factor and renal function during head-out water immersion in conscious dogs

The potential role of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in the renal response to head-out water immersion (WI) was studied. Five female mongrel dogs, trained to stand for 100 min in air followed by 100 min of thermoneutral WI at 37 degrees C or 200 min in air (timed control, TC), were chronically instrumented with arterial and venous catheters. The animals were hydrated with a volume of 0.45% NaCl solution equivalent to 2% of their body weight. Prehydration levels of arterial ANF were 243 +/- 15 (SE), and venous ANF levels were 211 +/- 21 pg/ml. WI resulted in an increase in urine flow from 0.7 +/- 0.1 ml/min to a peak flow of 2.2 +/- 0.3 ml/min (P less than 0.05). On immersion, plasma venous and arterial ANF levels increased significantly by 29 and 21% from the preimmersion values of 183 +/- 14 and 222 +/- 20 pg/ml, respectively. The arterial-venous difference for plasma ANF was maintained at 35 +/- 14 pg/ml (P less than 0.05) during WI; therefore venous sampling may suffice as a measure of circulating ANF levels. Sodium excretion increased linearly during WI to a peak value of 228 +/- 32 mu eq/min from a base line of 52 +/- 12 mu eq/min (P less than 0.05). These data indicate that peripheral tissues extract ANF and that WI is a physiological stimulus for the release of ANF. However, the time course and magnitude of the changes in plasma ANF and urine sodium excretion during WI are not comparable, and other mechanisms are likely responsible for the WI natriuresis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Energetics of wet-suit diving in Japanese male breath-hold divers

The present study was undertaken to investigate energy balance in professional male breath-hold divers in Tsushima Island, Japan. In 4 divers, rectal (Tre) and mean skin (Tsk) temperatures and rate of O2 consumption (VO2) were measured during diving work in summer (27 degrees C water) and winter (14 degrees C water). Thermal insulation and energy costs of diving work were estimated. In summer, comparisons were made of subjects clad either in wet suits (protected) or in swimming trunks (unprotected), and in winter, they wore wet suits. The average Tre in unprotected divers decreased to 36.4 +/- 0.2 degrees C at the end of 1-h diving work, but in protected divers it decreased to 37.2 +/- 0.3 degrees C in 2 h in summer and to 36.9 +/- 0.1 degree C in 1.5 h in winter. The average Tsk of unprotected divers decreased to 28.0 +/- 0.6 degrees C in summer and that of protected divers decreased to 32.9 +/- 0.5 degrees C in summer and 28.0 +/- 0.3 degrees C in winter. Average VO2 increased 190% (from 370 ml/min before diving to 1,070 ml/min) in unprotected divers in summer, but in protected divers it rose 120% (from 360 to 780 ml/min) in summer and 110% (from 330 to 690 ml/min) in winter. Overall thermal insulation (tissue and wet suit) calculated for protected divers was 0.065 +/- 0.006 degree C X kcal-1 X m-2 X h-1 in summer and 0.135 +/- 0.019 degree C X kcal-1 X m-2 X h-1 in winter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ionic basis of short-circuit current in toad skin at high hydrostatic pressure

The toad skin and urinary bladder are widely used for the study of water and Na+ transport under high pressure. These tissues can be mounted in Ussing type chambers and ion transport can be measured by evaluating electrical properties of the preparation, e.g., short-circuit current (Isc). The tacit assumption in these experiments is that the preparation behaves in the same manner at high pressure as at 1 ATA; namely, that net Na+ flux is equivalent to Isc. The purpose of the experiments described here was to test that assumption. Toad skins were mounted in an Ussing chamber and Isc was measured as an index of active net Na+ transport under hydrostatic pressures up to 100 ATA. The chamber was modified so that isotopic Na+ flux from the mucosal to serosal compartments could be measured in conjunction with Isc, without decompression. A linear regression of JNa+ms on Isc was computed and found to be described by the equation, JNa+ms = 3.83 + 0.83 Isc; n = 18; r = 0.92. The slope of the line was not significantly different from unity. No correlation was made for JNa+sm because of the difficulty in measuring JNa+sm and JNa+ms in the same skin simultaneously. Independent measurement of JNa+sm demonstrated that this flux accounted for less than 2% of JNa+net. In a second set of experiments, the influence of amiloride on Isc with and without pressure was tested. 10(-4) M amiloride abolished Isc under both circumstances. It is concluded that Isc can be wholly accounted for by net Na+ flux under pressures up to 100 ATA.

Plasma volume changes during head-out water immersion in conscious dogs

Blood volume (51Cr-erythrocyte dilution method), hematocrit, and arterial (Pa), central venous (Pv), plasma colloid osmotic (IIpl), and interstitial fluid hydrostatic (Pcps, Guyton's capsule method) pressures were measured continuously to determine the kinetics of the transvascular fluid shift during 100 min of water immersion (WI) at 37 degrees C in six splenectomized dogs. Urine flow increased by 180% above control levels (P less than 0.05) by 30 min of WI. Plasma volume (PV) started to increase at 5 min of WI and rose by 7.2% (P less than 0.05) above control levels by 35 min of WI, and then it decreased gradually. PV returned to control levels immediately after WI. Plasma protein concentration and IIpl decreased significantly by 0.2 g/100 ml and 1.2 mmHg, respectively, at 35 min of WI, while plasma osmolality and Na+ concentration were constant. Pa and Pv increased (P less than 0.05) by 25 and 12 mmHg, respectively. Mean capillary pressure, which was calculated from Pa, Pv, and an estimated pre-to-postcapillary resistance ratio of 5-12, increased by 13-14 mmHg while Pcps increased (P less than 0.05) by 17 and 26 mmHg at upper hindlimb and lower forelimb, respectively. The changes in mean capillary pressure and IIpl tend to promote capillary filtration in WI; however, the greater elevation of Pcps more than offsets these forces and leads to a net transvascular shift into the plasma compartment.

Lack of interaction between atrial natriuretic factor and renal organic anion transport system

The aim of the present investigation was to test the hypothesis that atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is secreted into the proximal tubule lumen by the organic anion transport mechanism. The rationale for this hypothesis was the reported probenecid attenuation of the natriuretic effect of ANF. Probenecid is widely regarded as an inhibitor of organic acid transport in the proximal tubule. ANF was prepared in varying degrees of purity ranging from a relatively crude extract to a highly purified form. A commercially available form was also used. All forms were bioassayed using the anesthetized rat and a diuresis and natriuresis was observed in each case which was comparable to literature reports. Interaction of ANF with the organic acid transport system was evaluated using the renal cortical slice technique. Over a wide range of concentrations, there was no effect of ANF on cortical slice accumulation of either p-aminohippurate (PAH), the classical substrate of the organic anion transport system or tetraethylammonium (TEA), a typical organic cation. It is concluded that although ANF may indeed exert its effect at the luminal membranes of the nephron, access to the lumen is not mediated by the organic cation or anion transport system in the proximal tubule.

Fluid conservation in athletes: responses to water intake, supine posture, and immersion

The roles of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and aldosterone in the elicited diuretic responses of trained and untrained men to seated, supine, and head-out water immersed conditions were studied. Volunteers were comprised of groups of six untrained individuals, six trained swimmers, and six trained runners. Each subject underwent three protocols, six hours in a seated position, supine position, or immersion (35 degrees C water). The last two protocols were preceded and followed by 1 h of seated position. After 10 h of fasting, 0.5% body wt of water was drunk. One hour later the trained groups had higher urine osmolalities (P less than 0.05) and urinary excretion rates of ADH (P less than 0.05) and lower urine flow rates (P less than 0.05) than untrained subjects. Throughout the sitting protocol, urinary ADH was also higher in both trained groups (P less than 0.05). Both supine posture and immersion resulted in significant decreases in urinary ADH in the untrained subjects (P less than 0.05) but no changes wer noted in swimmers and only during the second hour of immersion in the runners (P less than 0.05). The natriuresis and kaliuresis were greater during immersion than in the supine position but plasma renin activity, measured only in trained groups, and plasma aldosterone, measured in the untrained group, were decreased similarly with both protocols. The increases in urinary sodium excretion and urine flow rate were lower in trained than untrained subjects during the supine and immersion protocols (P less than 0.05). The data are compatible with an increased osmotic but decreased volume sensitivity of ADH control in trained men.

Cardiac output by impedance cardiography during head-out water immersion

This study was undertaken to ascertain the suitability of impedance cardiography for qualifying cardiac output during water immersion where the electrodes were wet. The cardiac output was compared during wet and dry immersion with the head above water by breath holding briefly at 3 lung volumes. For dry immersion, the subjects were protected from contacting water during immersion by enveloping the whole body in a thin plastic bag. For wet immersion, the subject went into the water wearing only trunks. Eleven healthy males served as subjects. Both basal thoracic impedance and the minimum rate of impedance change decreased during wet immersion. These changes were specific, which insignificantly influenced the computation of stroke volume as compared to dry immersion. Our results showed no statistical differences between wet and dry immersions, and between measurements made at total lung capacity functional residual capacity, or residual volume. It is concluded that impedance cardiography is applicable directly in wet conditions without having to protect the subject from getting wet.

Cardiorenal-endocrine responses to head-out immersion at night

Cardiorenal-endocrine responses to 3-h head-out immersion (HOI) (water temperature = 34.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C) were studied during day (0900-1400 h) and night (2300-0400 h) in six hydropenic male human subjects. Although HOI induced a reversible increase in urine flow in all subjects, the response was faster and greater in magnitude during the day compared with night (P less than 0.05). Na excretion and osmolal clearance (Cosm) also followed the identical response pattern as urine flow, and in fact, the HOI-induced diuresis was entirely accounted for by the increased Cosm. Endogenous creatinine clearance was not different between the day and the night and remained unchanged during HOI. Both plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration and urinary aldosterone excretion were nearly twofold greater during the day compared with night before HOI but decreased to the same level during HOI in both daytime and the nighttime series (P less than 0.05). There was no correlation between the Na excretion rate and renin-aldosterone levels either before or during HOI. Plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) level was comparable between day and night before HOI and decreased to a similar level during HOI in both daytime and nighttime series (P less than 0.05 for nighttime HOI). Cardiac output increased from 3.3 1/min before HOI to 5-6 1/min during HOI without showing any significant circadian difference. Hematocrit, hemoglobin, and plasma concentrations remained unchanged under all conditions. It is concluded that the renal response to HOI is subject to nocturnal inhibition, which cannot be attributed to circadian differences in the degree of HOI-induced central blood pooling, renin-aldosterone, or ADH responses.

Diving pattern of Tsushima male breath-hold divers (Katsugi)

The present study was undertaken to investigate the diving pattern, buoyancy-mass relationship, and some respiratory functions in professional male breath-hold divers in Tsushima Island, Japan. These divers always wear neoprene wet suits and use fins and 4-kg counterweights. They usually dive to 3-10 m depths. The rate of descent was 1.12 m/s for deeper dives (greater than 10 m), which is nearly twofold greater than that of Korean female divers also wearing wet suits and fins. However, the rate of ascent (0.8 m/s) was comparable to that of Korean women divers. On a typical summer day, they spend nearly 4 h in the water and perform 175 dives. The average dive and surface time were 39 and 42 s, respectively. The total bottom time was estimated to be 67 min/d, nearly twice that of Korean women divers. These divers do not adjust the counterweight and all are using a 4-kg weight. Nevertheless, the buoyancy-mass relationship revealed that they maintain the same degree of positive buoyancy (approximately 10% above the neutral level) at surface as do Korean women divers who adjust counterweights. The vital capacity was significantly greater in the diver than in the control (P less than 0.05), which was largely due to the greater expiratory reserve volume in the diver. The end-tidal O2 and CO2 pressures of the diver resting in air were not different from those of the control. These results indicate that, while the basic diving pattern is similar in both male and female breath-hold divers, the overall efficiency of diving (in terms of the rate of descent and the bottom time) appears to be superior in male divers.

Impaired organic ion transport in proximal tubules of rats with Heymann nephritis

Organic ion transport across the basolateral membrane of proximal tubules was measured by means of the tissue slice technique in each of the four different stages of Heymann nephritis. Impairment of both organic anion and cation transport was detected early in Stage 2, and became more severe in Stage 3 of Heymann nephritis. The decreased transport function was associated with extensive damage to proximal tubule cells, including loss of brush border microvilli and basal infoldings. Despite these abnormalities of structure and function, oxygen consumption of proximal tubule cells remained essentially normal. Partial recovery of organic cation transport was noted late in Heymann nephritis (Stage 4). Recovery of the cation transport function was associated with a partial restoration of brush border microvilli and basal infoldings to proximal tubule cells. However, organic anion transport remained depressed throughout the entire course of disease. Impairment of organic ion transport in rats with Heymann nephritis appeared to result from damage to basolateral membrane transport elements rather than general deterioration of the metabolic machinery of proximal tubule cells. Decreased organic cation transport appeared to be the consequence of a reduction in the number of carrier sites, a phenomenon that could have resulted from decreased membrane surface area. However, the depression of organic anion transport was associated with decreased substrate affinity of the anion carrier, indicating that qualitative, rather than quantitative changes, were primarily responsible for that defect. Specific antibody-mediated damage to the anion transport elements in basolateral membranes of proximal tubules is postulated to occur in Heymann nephritis.

Renal transport of gossypol in the rabbit

The present work was carried out to investigate the transport characteristics of gossypol, a toxic weak organic acid (pK = 7.2) contained in cottonseed, into the rabbit renal cortical slice. The uptake of gossypol increased linearly during a 2-hr incubation after which it leveled off with the average slice-to-medium concentration ratio (S/M) slightly above 20. In the presence of metabolic inhibitors, the S/M gossypol leveled off at about 9, suggesting an extensive binding of gossypol to tissue proteins. The uptake of gossypol was significantly inhibited by p-aminohippurate (PAH), probenecid, ouabain, and DIDS, all of which are known inhibitors of renal organic anion transport. However, the gossypol uptake was not affected by tetraethylammonium (TEA), a prototypical organic cation. Kinetic studies indicated that the apparent Km for gossypol transport is 0.28 mM, and also that probenecid inhibits gossypol transport in a competitive manner. It is concluded that gossypol is transported by the renal tubule through the classic organic anion system.

Cardio-renal responses to a stimulated gravity-free state induced by water immersion

HOI induces a significant increase in the cardiac output, which is accompanied by increases in the urinary excretion of water, Na and K. However, the renal responses are not always associated with the cardiac response, suggesting a possible dissociation of two events. Although the urinary excretion of both ADH and aldosterone decreases during HOI, the mechanism for these changes is not clearly understood. The renal responses to HOI, especially the natriuresis, is considerably attenuated in endurance-trained athletes, which may be related to the more moderate inhibition of both ADH and renin-aldosterone systems. The exact role of the cardiac receptors in inducing the renal responses to HOI is still not defined, although the latter receptors are involved in inducing the natriuresis. Finally, important diurnal variations have been demonstrated for the renal responses to HOI, and elucidation of the mechanism for this interesting phenomenon may help understand the overall mechanisms for the development of cardiorenal-endocrine responses to HOI.

Proximal tubule function in chronic serum sickness glomerulonephritis of rats

Fatal immune complex glomerulonephritis can be induced in rats by chronic intravenous administration of bovine serum albumin. There are three distinct stages, mild, moderate, and severe, in the development of renal immunopathology and pathophysiology in this model of chronic serum sickness. The work described here was undertaken to evaluate aspects of proximal tubule function in those different stages. Tissue water distribution, oxidative metabolism, and transport of representative organic anions and cations were measured in renal cortical slices. In mild chronic serum sickness all functions were normal except the transport of p-aminohippurate (PAH, organic anion), which was significantly decreased. This decrease appeared to be attributable to immunization with Freund's adjuvant. In the moderate stage of chronic serum sickness, proximal tubule functions and morphology appeared essentially normal. Only Na-K-ATPase activity was somewhat lower than in controls. However, proximal tubule dysfunction was a feature of severe chronic serum sickness. A significant inhibition of anion and cation transport was observed. Reduction in transport functions occurred together with impaired oxidative metabolism and severe reduction in Na-K-ATPase activity. Abnormalities of mitochondrial structure, a decrease in number of mitochondria, and a significant increase in intracellular H2O content provided additional evidence of degenerative changes in proximal tubule cells during the severe stage of chronic serum sickness. It was concluded that decreased transport of organic ions by the basolateral membrane in proximal tubules of rats with severe chronic serum sickness resulted from a breakdown in the metabolic machinery of the tubule epithelium rather than a specific injury to organic ion transport systems.

Photoaffinity labeling of organic anion transport system in proximal tubule

The present investigation compares brush-border (BBM) and basolateral membrane (BLM) vesicles in terms of purity, function, appearance on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gels, and labeling pattern by use of N-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (NAP-taurine), a photoaffinity analogue of p-aminohippurate (PAH). Both BLM and BBM were vesicular by demonstration of PAH uptake into an osmotically active space and had probenecid-inhibitable uptake of PAH. Time courses for uptake were similar. 250 microM NAP-taurine resulted in a 35% inhibition of PAH uptake in BLM but it did not significantly effect PAH uptake into BBM. The latter was affected by 1 mM NAP-taurine. A comparison of Coomassie blue SDS gels of BLM and BBM showed markedly different staining patterns. A major band at approximately 52,000 daltons was more intensely stained in BLM than BBM. Major bands at approximately 40,000 and approximately 80,000 were stained more heavily in BBM than BLM. A minor protein at 26,000 in the BLM did not appear in BBM. An irreversible inhibition of PAH uptake in BLM was observed after photolysis in the presence of NAP-taurine. This was associated with the labeling of four protein bands on SDS polyacrylamide gels. In contrast no labeling was observed in BBM.

Cardiovascular and renal responses to head-out water immersion in canine model

Water immersion (WI) of anesthetized dogs to the midcervical level in the vertical sitting position under thermoneutral conditions (38 degrees C) leads to generalized increases in regional blood flows (radiolabeled microspheres) to most tissues. The increased flows can be accounted for by increased local VO2 in some tissues (heart, respiratory muscle), or by local heating (skin, fat). However, an alteration in the relation between cardiac output (Q) and VO2 appears to play a role in the large flow increments observed in skeletal muscle and abdominal viscera in WT. Studies of conscious, chronically instrumented dogs during 100 min of thermoneutral WI at 37 degrees C in the quadruped position indicate that both left atrial and aortic transmural distending pressures and left ventricular contractile performance (LV dP/dtmax) increase, while total peripheral resistance is unchanged. Cardiac output increases largely in association with an increase of heart rate. In addition, urine flow, sodium excretion, and osmolal clearance all increased. The cardiovascular adjustments occurred more rapidly than the renal responses. These results indicate that the conscious dog may be useful for investigation of physiological mechanisms involved in the WI response.

Responses of salt- and water-regulating hormones during a saturation dive to 31 ATA (SEADRAGON IV)

Four Japanese male subjects were studied during 3 days at 1 ATA, 3 days of compression to 31 ATA (1000 fsw), 14 days at 31 ATA, 12 days of decompression, and 3 days of postdive control at 1 ATA. The chamber was maintained at thermoneutral temperatures. During the 31-ATA exposure, urine flow increased about 500 ml/day (P less than 0.05) accompanied by an approximate 500-ml/day increase in osmotic clearance (Cosm) (P less than 0.05). Both urine flow and Cosm increases were primarily attributable to an increase in the overnight flow rates (P less than 0.01). The negative free water (-CH2O)/Cosm decreased during exposure to 31 ATA, indicating that a reduction in tubular water reabsorption may also contribute to the diuresis. Urine flow, Cosm, and -CH2O/Cosm all returned to predive values during decompression to 1 ATA. The urinary excretion rate of aldosterone increased from 2.7 +/- 0.3 micrograms/day at 1 ATA to 4.3 +/- 0.0 micrograms/day (P less than 0.01) at 31 ATA, remaining at about 3.8 micrograms/day until decompression. Urinary antidiuretic hormone (ADH) decreased from 50 +/- 7 to 33 +/- 3 mU/day (P less than 0.01) upon compression to 31 ATA and continued to decrease throughout the decompression phase. Plasma renin activity was increased by twofold (P less than 0.01) and plasma aldosterone by about 37% (NS) during exposure to 31 ATA. It is concluded that the reduction in ADH does not contribute significantly to the hyperbaric diuresis, and that the increased activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone is a result of other postulated mechanisms resulting in an increased Cosm.

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on sodium transport across toad skin

The short-circuit current (Isc) was measured as an index of active net sodium transport across the isolated toad skin under various hydrostatic pressures up to 300 ATA. Upon compression, the base-line Isc increased transiently during the first 10 min by 10-15 microA/cm2 (congruent to 20%) and then decreased continuously, leveling off at 40 min under pressure. The latter decrease in base-line Isc (P less than 0.05 at all pressures) was pressure dependent, and its magnitude was 30 microA/cm2 (60% inhibition) at 300 ATA. Similarly, the transepithelial electric potential difference (PD) tended to increase slightly during the early phase of compression and decreased during the steady-state phase of compression. The transepithelial resistance (R), calculated from PD/Isc ratios, generally increased under pressure. The addition of vasotocin to the inside bathing medium resulted in an increase in Isc and PD and a reduction in R at all pressures. The magnitude of peak Isc response to vasotocin was 50-60 microA/cm2 at pressures up to 100 ATA, but decreased to 30 microA/cm2 at 200-300 ATA (0.05 less than P less than 0.10 as compared to the response at 1 ATA). On the other hand the stimulatory effect of 1 mM cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), added to the inside bathing medium, on Isc was not affected by pressure between 1 and 300 ATA. From these results it is postulated that the inhibition of base-line Na transport under high hydrostatic pressure may be primarily due to a decrease in the outer membrane permeability to Na rather than an inhibition of the Na-K-ATPase.

Effects of gossypol on PAH transport in the rabbit kidney slice

The present work was carried out to investigate if gossypol, a toxic weak organic acid (pK = 7.2) contained in cottonseed, is secreted by the renal proximal tubule through the organic anion transport system in the rabbit. The slice uptake of p-aminohippurate (PAH), a prototypical organic anion, was significantly inhibited (by 30%) only when the medium concentration of gossypol was raised to 10(-4) M. However, gossypol at the latter concentration also induced a 30% inhibition of the slice uptake of tetraethylammonium (TEA), a prototypical organic cation. Moreover, gossypol at 10(-4) M significantly decreased the slice oxygen consumption (congruent to 30%) and Mg-ATPase (70%) and Na-K-ATPase (90%) activities of renal cortical microsomes, while it significantly decreased the intracellular (K+). These results indicate that gossypol inhibits PAH uptake through nonspecific nephrotoxic effects on cell metabolism and Na-K-ATPase activity rather than through its specific interaction with the organic anion transport system.

Patterns of wet suit diving in Korean women breath-hold divers

Work shifts, diving pattern, diving lung volumes, and counterweights were studied in professional Korean women breath-hold divers wearing wet suits. One of the major differences, compared with their diving pattern only a few years ago when wearing cotton suits, is the prolongation of the diving shifts from 70 to 180 min in the summer and 10 to 120 min in the winter. In sustained diving the average dive and surface times in a 5-m dive are 32 and 46 s, and in a 10-m dives, 43 and 85 s, respectively. During a 3-h shift the total bottom time for harvesting is 37 min in 5-m dives and 17 min in 10-m dives. Rates of descent and ascent are 0.55 and 0.84 m/s. The wet suit divers adjust their counterweights to obtain a 12% positive buoyancy at the surface of sea water in contrast to the 8% positive buoyancy of cotton suit divers. The average lung volumes before and after a dive are 79% and 64% of their vital capacities, values similar to those of previous cotton suit divers.

Time course of deacclimatization to cold water immersion in Korean women divers

Seasonal basal metabolic rates (BMR), critical water temperature (Tcw), maximal body insulations (Imax), and finger blood flow during hand immersion in 6 degrees C water (Q finger) were measured periodically during the course of a 3-yr longitudinal study (1980-1982) of modern Korean diving women (ama), who have been wearing wet suits since 1977 to avoid cold stress during work. Methods and protocols were identical to previous studies of cotton-suited ama from 1961-1974. The BMR of modern ama did not undergo seasonal fluctuation (1980-1981) and was within the DuBois standard and comparable to nondivers year around Tcw of ama was still reduced by 2-3 degrees C in 1980 but increased progressively to equal that of nondivers in 1982, when compared at comparable subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT). Since modern ama and nondivers have 2.4 times thicker SFT (i.e., 4-13 mm) than in 1962 the absolute Tcw is significantly reduced. Q finger of ama was also significantly lower than controls in 1980 but in 1981-1982 was identical to controls. Imax of modern ama was identical to controls of comparable SFT in 1980-1982. The time course of cold deacclimatization thus was BMR, 3 yr; Imax, 3 yr; Q finger, 4 yr; and Tcw, 5 yr. This longitudinal study provides further evidence that acclimatization to cold did at one time exist in these diving women.

Triphenylmethylphosphonium (TPMP+) as a probe for peritubular membrane potential in the kidney slice

The present work was undertaken to assess the validity of the use of TPMP+, a lipophilic cation, as a basolateral membrane-potential probe in the rabbit kidney slice. Cortical slices incubated in media containing 3H-TPMP+ reached an equilibrium slice/medium concentration ratio (S/M) for TPMP+ after 90 min. The equilibrium S/M TPMP+ was approximately 20 at TPMP+ concentrations between 30 and 50 microM. Concentrations of TPMP+ above 50 microM resulted in changes in tissue electrolytes and O2 consumption. Anaerobic incubation of slices in the presence of iodoacetamide decreased the S/M TPMP to approximately 3. When medium K+ was progressively increased, the S/M TPMP+ decreased continuously. There was a linear correlation between cell water/medium concentration ratios (C/M) for TPMP+ and K+ (r = 0.629, P less than 0.01). However, the C/M TPMP+ was 29.0 even at C/M K+ of 1.0, strongly suggesting the presence of a tissue binding component for TPMP+. When corrections are made for the above binding, the average C/M TPMP+ in slices incubated in the normal medium was approximately 13, equivalent to a Nernst potential of -64 mV. This value compared favorably to -54.3 mV obtained by microelectrodes in slices treated in the same fashion. It is concluded that the C/M TPMP+ corrected for binding may be used as a measure of the basolateral membrane potential in the steady state.

Energetics of wet-suit diving in Korean women breath-hold divers

Contemporary Korean women divers wear wet suits during diving work to avoid the cold water stress. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of wearing wet suits on the daily thermal balance of divers and on the duration of diving work. Rectal (TR) and skin temperatures and O2 consumption (VO2) were measured in four divers before and during diving work in summer (22.5 degrees C water) and winter (10 degrees C water). Subjects wore either wet suits (protected) or cotton suits (unprotected) for comparison. TR decreased 0.4 degrees C in summer and 0.6 degrees C in winter after 2 h of diving work in protected divers, while it decreased to 35 degrees C in 60 min in summer and in 30 min in winter in unprotected divers. Mean skin temperature of protected divers decreased to 31 degrees C in summer and 28 degrees C in winter, while that of unprotected divers decreased to 24 degrees C in summer and 13 degrees C in winter. VO2 toward the end of the diving work period increased by 80 (summer) and 140% (winter) in protected divers and by 160 (summer) and 250% (winter) in unprotected divers. From these values total thermal cost of diving work was estimated to be 260 and 370 kcal . day-1 in summer and winter, respectively.

Effects of hypercapnia, hypoxia, and rebreathing on circulatory response to apnea

Cardiovascular responses to cessation of respiration and to progressive hypoxia and hypercapnia were investigated noninvasively in eight male volunteers. A total of five 90-s breath holds (BH) with face immersion were performed by each subject. A continuous BH (BH-1) eliminated the circulatory effects of respiratory movements, BH with air (BH-3) or with O2 (BH-5) with rebreathing at 15-s intervals through a CO2 scrubber reduced the effect of hypercapnia, and BH with air (BH-2) or with O2 (BH-4) with rebreathing at 15-s intervals bypassing the CO2 scrubber produced hypercapnia with or without concomitant hypoxia. Mean arterial blood pressure rose continuously in BH-1 and BH-2 and to a much lesser degree in other BHs. Vasoconstriction was evident within 30 s of BH. Determined by impedance cardiograph, stroke volume (SV) rose by 33%, which was balanced out by a 30% reduction in heart rate (HR) from the pre-BH values, at the end of a continuous BH. A transient depression of cardiac output (CO) was observed at 30 and 60 s of BH-1. CO values were maintained at pre-BH levels throughout the BHs where progressive hypercapnia occurred (BH-2 and BH-4) but were depressed to a similar degree as BH-1 when hypercapnia was prevented (BH-3 and BH-5). Alveolar CO2 levels were found to be correlated linearly and positively with SV, HR, and CO. No such relationship existed between alveolar O2 levels and these hemodynamic parameters. Thus rebreathing and hypercapnia during BH prevented CO from falling during BH. It is reasoned that hypercapnia and consequent acidosis, through enhanced sympathoadrenal release of catecholamines, was responsible for the compensatory SV response.