THE EFFECT OF REPEATED HEAT AND COLD EXPOSURE ON SERUM PROTEIN COMPOSITION IN MAN

Abstract

Total protein, serum protein, and lipoprotein electrophoretic distribution and hematocrit values were determined in two groups of men during acclimatization to 6 weeks of cold and 11 days of heat respectively. After 3 weeks of cold exposure total serum protein and albumin content decreased, while the globulin fractions increased; thus, the calculated albumin/globulin ratio was significantly depressed. During the last 2 weeks, these parameters gradually returned to control values. Overall, the protein changes during heat acclimatization were minimal, although the globulins decreased slightly, yielding a small increase in the albumin/globulin ratio. The hematocrit levels were significantly lowered during both environmental exposures, whereas the lipoprotein distribution remained essentially unchanged.