ACUTE AND CHRONIC HYPERBARIC-OXYGEN EXPOSURE IN HUMANS - EFFECTS ON BLOOD POLYAMINES, ADRENOCORTICOTROPIN AND BETA-ENDORPHIN

Plasma beta-endorphin, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and blood polyamine (spermidine an spermine concentrations were evaluated in healthy adult male atheletes undergoing hyperbaric oxygen exposure for 10 days (2.8 atm, 100% O2, 60 min daily). In the ''acute phase'', corresponding to the first day of treatment. and in the ''acute in the chronic phase'' . corresponding to the values obtained on the 5th and 10th days after 60 min of hyperbaric O2, both ACTH and beta-endorphin levels increased significantly, whereas no variations were observed for polyamine conc entrations. In the ''chronic phase'', corresponding to the basal value s of the 5th and 10th days of treatment. we found a different pattern. In fact, the concentration of polyamines showed a remarkable enhancem ent, while ACTH and beta-endorphin levels remained unchanged. No signi ficant variations were observed during hyperbarism with air. These res ults demonstrate different modifications of polyamines and beta-endorp hin and ACTH in subjects submitted to hyperbaric oxygen exposure.