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. 2012 Jul;9(7):2312-25.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph9072312. Epub 2012 Jun 29.

Effects of cold air on cardiovascular disease risk factors in rat

Bin Luo  1 , Shuyu Zhang, Shoucun Ma, Ji Zhou, Baojian Wang
Affiliations

Effects of cold air on cardiovascular disease risk factors in rat

Bin Luo et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2012 Jul.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore possible potential implications of cold air in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in rats. Healthy Wistar rats were exposed to artificial cold air under laboratory conditions, and their systolic blood pressure, heart rate, vasoconstriction, CVD risk factors, and myocardial damage indicators after cold air exposure were determined and evaluated. Systolic blood pressure, whole blood viscosity, and plasma level of norepinephrine, angiotensinⅡ, low density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and fibrinogen in treatment groups increased significantly compared with control groups. No significant variations were found in plasma Mb and cTnT and myocardial tissue between the treatment and control groups. Results indicate that: (1) higher levels of SBP, WBV and LDL/HDL, total cholesterol (TC), and FG in blood may indicate higher CVD risks during cold air exposure; (2) cold air may exert continuous impacts on SBP and other CVD risk factors.

Keywords: CVD risk factors; cold air exposure; myocardial injury indicators.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Temperature changes over time during the cold air process. Tmin-s: the starting minimum temperature of the cold air; Tmin-g: the minimum temperature for cold air grading; Tmin: the minimum temperature; Tr: the rewarming temperature; ↓∆T48 = Tmin-s − Tmin-g；↓∆Tmax = Tmin-s −Tmin.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Variation in body weight, SBP, and HR of rats under controlled and cold air exposure periods. Data shown as mean + SE; n = 6 in each group. Compared with the control group,** P < 0.005.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of the temperature dropping process on plasma ANG II (A), EPI (B), NE (C), and ET1 (D) in Wistar rats. Results shown as a mean + SE, n = 6 in each group. Compared with the control group, ** P< 0.005.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Left heart ventricle of sample rats from TDC, TD, TEC, and TE; n = 6 in each group. Hematoxylin-eosin 400.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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