The influence of heat stress on plasma volume and intravascular proteins in sedentary females

23 untrained female subjects underwent a standardised thermal dehydration. Plasma volume (PV), hematocrit (HCT), total intravascular protein concentration (TPC), albumin concentration (AC), total globulin concentration (TGC) were determined before, immediately, 90 min and 180 min after the heat stress. The intravascular protein masses (IPM) were calculated from PV and protein concentration. In comparison to men the loss of body weight and PV was smaller. Consequently the TPC does not increase to the same amount in men. A tendency for a diminution of IPM could be observed but this shift was not significant, compared to males. According to these findings the colloid osmotic capacity remained on a relatively high level. Opposite to men the IPM of globulins increased in females after thermal dehydration.