216 



ADAPTATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS 



Table 14 



BLOOD COMPONENTS BEFORE AND AFTER* EXERCISE TEST FOR MAXIMUM 



OXYGEN UPTAKE MEAN VALUES FROM 9 SUBJECTS t 



*A11 bloods obtained four minutes following cessation of test. 



tThe first test was made prior to entering Sealab II, while the second test was performed two 



days after 15 days in Sealab and 36 hours of decompression. 

 tEight subjects - one eliminated due to failure to complete test. 



of the subjects by observers indicated that these test subjects had greater evidence of fatigue 

 than was noted on their first test. Again it should be noted that full evaluation of this data has 

 not been made and that these statements are preliminary. 



The study made on steady- state work (Table 15) also reflects the general statements made 

 above. This impression is verified by the greater number of men (4) who could not complete 

 the test the second time. Again, final decision will be made after analysis of the data is 

 completed. 



The cold-exposure test consisted of a two-hour exposure to an ambient temperature of 7°C. 

 The subjects wore shorts and were lying on a nylon mesh cot during the test. Temperature and 

 metabolism measurements offered opportunity for a rather complex analysis of thermal stress. 

 Figures 91, 92 and 93 present a preliminary analysis of this data. The data found in Fig. 93 

 suggested an alteration in their responses to cold stress. The men were able to increase their 

 metabolic levels, with a consequent diminution in loss of body-heat content. The reasons for 

 this alteration can not be determined until the data analysis is completed. One problem, not 

 clearly identifiable, was the major loss (mean 2 kg) of body weight by the subjects between 

 their two visits to this laboratory. 



In brief, there was a suggestion based on the data obtained that some alteration in physio- 

 logical function occurred in men living under the conditions present in Sealab 11. Definitive 

 statements on these patterns will not be available xmtil these and other data have been subjected 

 to final analysis. 



