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Response of plasma endorphins, prolactin and catecholamines in women to intense heat in a sauna

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Summary

Concentrations of immunoreactiveβ-endorphin (irβ-E), corticotropin, cortisol, prolactin and catecholamines in plasma were followed in 11 healthy women during and after exposure to intense heat in a Finnish sauna bath, and compared to those in a similar control situation without exposure to heat. Heat stress significantly increased prolactin and norepinephrine secretion; the percentage increases from the initial plasma concentrations varied from 113 to 1280% (mean 510%) and from 18 to 150% (mean 86%), respectively. The response of the plasma levels of epinephrine, irβ-E, corticotropin and cortisol to heat exposure was variable. Compared to the control situation, no statistically significant effect of heat exposure on the plasma levels of these hormones was found.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 2, SF-00290, Helsinki

    T. Laatikainen & K. Salminen

  2. Malmi Municipal Hospital, SF-00700, Helsinki

    A. Kohvakka

  3. Department of Biochemistry, University of Helsinki, SF-00100, Helsinki, Finland

    J. Pettersson

Authors
  1. T. Laatikainen
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  2. K. Salminen
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  3. A. Kohvakka
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  4. J. Pettersson
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Laatikainen, T., Salminen, K., Kohvakka, A. et al. Response of plasma endorphins, prolactin and catecholamines in women to intense heat in a sauna. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 57, 98–102 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691246

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691246

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