Metabolic and Thermoregulatory Responses of Rhesus Monkeys to Combined Exerciseand Environmental Heat Load

摘要

The purpose of the present research was to characterize the effects of selectedphysiological stressors such as work and various environmental heat loads in rhesus monkeys. Nonhuman primates (N=6) were behaviorally conditioned to exercise in a wheel ergometer at about 3 METs. Core temperature (Tco), body weight (BW) and blood samples were taken immediately before and after exercise. Excessively high heat storage rates dictated that the 35 C trial be limited to three work/rest bouts. Sweat rate (as determined by the change in BW over time) and the change in Tco during exercise were significantly greater during the 35 C trial as compared to the 15 and 25 C trials. The findings of this study indicate that the increased heat storage observed at higher environmental heat loads appears to substantially limit the amount of work these primates can perform, possibly the result of a limited sweat production capacity. Additionally, plasma glucose following exercise decreased to levels not typically seen in humans. The general metabolic profile in these primates was otherwise similar to that observed in humans at this work level.