Rewarming mildly hypothermic subjects with distal extremity rewarming has been associated with significantly greater rewarming rate compared to shivering-only as it increases heat flow to the core by opening up of arteriovenous anastomoses in the extremities. This study compared distal extremity rewarming with Fluidotherapy® or warm water, or shivering-only. Seven healthy individuals were cooled in 8°C water to either a core temperature of 35°C or a maximum of one hour. The subjects were then rewarmed with one of the three rewarming methods (distal extremity rewarming with 44°C water or 46°C Fluidotherapy® or shivering-only) on three different occasions. There was no significant difference in the afterdrop length and duration between the three conditions. Fluidotherapy® provided rewarming rates similar to the shivering-only condition. Warm water rewarming provided higher heat donation to distal extremities and lead to a threefold higher rewarming rate compared to the other two treatments.

Rewarming mildly hypothermic subjects with distal extremity rewarming has been associated with significantly greater rewarming rate compared to shivering-only as it increases heat flow to the core by opening up of arteriovenous anastomoses in the extremities. This study compared distal extremity rewarming with Fluidotherapy® or warm water, or shivering-only. Seven healthy individuals were cooled in 8°C water to either a core temperature of 35°C or a maximum of one hour. The subjects were then rewarmed with one of the three rewarming methods (distal extremity rewarming with 44°C water or 46°C Fluidotherapy® or shivering-only) on three different occasions. There was no significant difference in the afterdrop length and duration between the three conditions. Fluidotherapy® provided rewarming rates similar to the shivering-only condition. Warm water rewarming provided higher heat donation to distal extremities and lead to a threefold higher rewarming rate compared to the other two treatments.

The naturally occuring ergot alkaloids of the fungus, Claviceps purpurea, and their many derivatives have been of neuropharmacological interest for many years because of their ability to affect peripheral and central adrenergic and serotonergic systems. More recently, selected compounds such as lergotile (2-chloro-6-methyl ergoline-8-beta acetonitrile) and and bromocriptine (2-bromo-alpha-ergocryptine), have been given additional attention due to their possible therapeutic potential in the treatment of parkinson’s disease, acromegaly and other disorders. There have been considerable data published attempting to establish the mechanism(s) whereby the ergot compounds exert their effects. A large portion of these experiments involves the interaction of ergot compounds with dopaminergic systems. This is a logical course of study, since many of the actions of the ergot compounds mimic the actions of compounds known to affect dopaminergic neurons, e.g. antagonists such as the phenothiazines and butyrophenones and agonists such as levodopa and apomorphine. In the last decade, much attention also has been focused on the role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) in the mediation of dopaminergic systems. There have been many conflicting reports published as to the role of serotonin but it is still uncertain whether or not serotonin does indeed play a role. The present study investigates two dopaminergic effects of the standard dopamine agonist apomorphine and the ergoline lergotrile and the similarities or differences that exist when serotonergic function is altered.