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Enhanced sensitivity to noradrenaline of the Ainu

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Abstract

A small dose of noradrenaline, which was ineffective in non-Ainu Japanese subjects, caused marked elevations in energy metabolism and plasma levels of FFA and total ketone bodies in the Ainu. The striking sensitivity to noradrenaline of the Ainu is assumed to indicate a characteristic feature of cold adaptability of this ethnic group.

Zusammenfassung

Eine geringe Dosis Noradrenalin, die bei nicht-Ainu Japanern unwirksam war, bewirkte bei Ainus eine ausgeprägte Erhöhung des Stoffwechsels, des Plasmaspiegels, der freien Fettsäuren und der Gesamt-Ketonkörper. Die Noradrenalin-Empfindlichkeit der Ainus wird als Kennzeichen besonderer Kälteanpassungsfähigkeit erklärt, das für diesen Volksstamm kennzeichend ist.

Resume

Une faible dose de noradrénaline, dose qui reste sans effet sur les Japonais n'appartenant pas à la race des Ainous, provoque au contraire une nette élévation du métabolisme énergétique chez les natifs de cette race. Cette élévation se signale notamment par le relèvement du taux des acides gras libres et des masses de kétone dans le sérum sanguin. L'extrême sensibilité des Ainous à la noradrénaline explique la facilité avec laquelle les gens de cette race s'adaptent au froid. Cette facilité d'adaptation est d'ailleurs une des caractéristiques de cette race.

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This study was made as a part of J-IBP/HA.

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Itoh, S., Doi, K. & Kuroshima, A. Enhanced sensitivity to noradrenaline of the Ainu. Int J Biometeorol 14, 195–200 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01440963

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