Short-term cold exposure improves antioxidant status and general resistance of animals.

We studied the effect of short-term swimming in cold water (13 degrees C) on parameters of the blood antioxidant system (activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, concentrations of ceruloplasmin and nonprotein thiols), heme oxygenase activity, and nonprotein thiol level in mouse liver. The test parameters of antioxidant protection increased 1 h after cold exposure and remained high 1 day after treatment. These changes were accompanied by an increase in the adaptive capacity. After swimming in cold water the resistance of animals to another stress factor (administration of epinephrine) was higher compared to controls.