Thermoregulatory responses to environmental toxicants: The interaction of thermal stress and toxicant exposure

Thermal stress can have a profound impact on the physiological responses that are elicited following environmental toxicant exposure. The efficacy by which toxicants enter the body is directly influenced by thermoregulatory effector responses that are evoked in response to high ambient temperatures....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxicology and applied pharmacology 2008-11, Vol.233 (1), p.146-161
Main Author: Leon, Lisa R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ABSORPTION
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
BLOOD FLOW
Body Temperature Regulation - drug effects
Body Temperature Regulation - physiology
ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Exposure
FEVER
Fever - etiology
Fever - physiopathology
Hazardous Substances - toxicity
HEAT
HEAT STRESS
Heat Stress Disorders - etiology
Heat Stress Disorders - physiopathology
HOMEOSTASIS
Humans
HYPOTHERMIA
Hypothermia - etiology
Hypothermia - physiopathology
LIPIDS
Medical sciences
Organophosphates
RODENTS
SKIN
THERMAL STRESSES
TOXICITY
Toxicology
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Summary:Thermal stress can have a profound impact on the physiological responses that are elicited following environmental toxicant exposure. The efficacy by which toxicants enter the body is directly influenced by thermoregulatory effector responses that are evoked in response to high ambient temperatures. In mammals, the thermoregulatory response to heat stress consists of an increase in skin blood flow and moistening of the skin surface to dissipate core heat to the environment. These physiological responses may exacerbate chemical toxicity due to increased permeability of the skin, which facilitates the cutaneous absorption of many environmental toxicants. The core temperature responses that are elicited in response to high ambient temperatures, toxicant exposure or both can also have a profound impact on the ability of an organism to survive the insult. In small rodents, the thermoregulatory response to thermal stress and many environmental toxicants (such as organophosphate compounds) is often biphasic in nature, consisting initially of a regulated reduction in core temperature (i.e., hypothermia) followed by fever. Hypothermia is an important thermoregulatory survival strategy that is used by small rodents to diminish the effect of severe environmental insults on tissue homeostasis. The protective effect of hypothermia is realized by its effects on chemical toxicity as molecular and cellular processes, such as lipid peroxidation and the formation of reactive oxygen species, are minimized at reduced core temperatures. The beneficial effects of fever are unknown under these conditions. Perspective is provided on the applicability of data obtained in rodent models to the human condition.
ISSN:0041-008X
1096-0333
DOI:10.1016/j.taap.2008.01.012