Abstract:

The changes of urine and plasma catecholamines, norepinephrine(NE) and epinephrine(E), were investigated in 16 Antarctic expedition members(Great Wall Station) under extreme environmental condition by Spectrophotofluorescent and radioenzymatic assay. Samples were taken at different time:(1)before leaving to Antarctica;(2)2 weeks after arrival at Antarctica;(3)1 year and 2 weeks after arrival and (4) after returning back to China.Results showed that a rapid increase of urinary NE in Antarctica (2) decreased significantly at(3),and returned to normal content at(4).The increase of urinary E was greater than that of NE at Antarctica (2),but kept high level at (4). The results indicated that activation of sympathetic system was involved in syndromic stress, especially psychological responses was associated with high E level. In addition, catecholamines were not affected by temperature and determinative time in room temperature during 3 monthes.