This study identified gender-related differences in post-exercise peripheral blood flow and body temperature in neutral environment (21ºC). The subjects were 11 male (22 +/- 4 years) and 14 pre-ovulatory female (23 +/- 3 years) recreational runners VO2max: 62 +/- 5 mL/kg &bull; min for men and 55 +/- 5 mL/kg &bull; min for women). Forearm blood flow rectal (Trec) and forearm skin temperatures (Tsk), and forearm vascular resistance (mean arterial pressure/forearm blood flow) were measured pre-exercise (pre), immediately after (t = 0), and every 15 minutes up to 105 minutes (t = 105) post-exercise (45-minute run at 75% of VO2max). ANOVA revealed main gender effects for Trec, Tsk, and forearm blood flow (men > women) as well as for forearm vascular resistance (women > men). Compared to pre-exercise, Trec at t = 0 showed a similar increase in men (1.3ºC) and women (1.2ºC). Trec decreased thereafter to reach pre-exercise level after 25 minutes in men. In women, Trec kept decreasing to reach a lower than pre-exercise level after 60 minutes (p < 0.05). Tsk was similar at pre and t = 0 for both genders. In contrast, Tsk was lower in women than men (29.0 +/- 1.3 versus 30.7 +/- 1.5ºC) at t = 105 (p < 0.05). Forearm vascular resistance was similar in men and women pre-exercise and decreased by about 50% in both groups at t = 0. Between t = 30 and t = 105, the women increased their forearm vascular resistance up to 35% more than did the men. These observations suggest the existence of gender-related differences in thermoregulatory and cutaneous blood flow responses during recovery from submaximal exercise.

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