Back to search

Virginia Tech

Effects of opioid antagonism on thermoregulation during prolonged exercise in the heat

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Five adult male volunteers were studied to investigate the effect of opiate receptor blockade on the physiological response to a maximum of 60 minutes of stationary cycling at 70% V02peak in a hot (33 0 C/65% RH) environment. Exercise bouts were conducted following the administration of naloxone (4mg IV) 5 minutes prior to exercise with a follow-up 4mg dose at 25 minutes of exercise. In the placebo trial, volume-matched doses of saline were administered at the same points. No significant drug effect was observed on rectal or mean skin temperature during exercise. Post-exercise skin temperature was significantly (P<.001) higher on naloxone versus saline. Forearm blood flow (FBF) was consistently higher from minute 25 of exercise until test termination, although only the minute 25 and minute 55 data points were significantly elevated (P<.05, P<.005, respectively) . The rectal temperature threshold at which FBF plateaued was higher on naloxone (P=.054), and the FBF: rectal temperature slope was higher on naloxone throughout the trial. No significant changes were observed in heart rate or estimated mean arterial pressures, although both were consistently lower on naloxone. Gross sweat response was not altered by the drug. Plasma Beta-Endorphin was significantly (P<.Ol) higher on naloxone versus saline, and Beta-Endorphin was significantly elevated in the naloxone trial only. The observation that FBF was significantly higher on naloxone without inducing compensatory heart rate or blood pressure changes suggests that the opioids may be involved in the blood volume shifts that occur during prolonged exercise in the heat.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Health and Physical Education
Department dc:contributor.department
Health and Physical Education
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1990

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Hickey, Matthew Sean
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Herbert, William G.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Rankin, Janet L. Walberg
  • Lee, John C.

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-06112009-063109
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/43122

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Hickey, Matthew Sean. Effects of opioid antagonism on thermoregulation during prolonged exercise in the heat. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/43122