Physiological significance of cortisol during cold exposure and its application as a diagnostic marker for Hypothermia

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17327
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58040:Forensics medicine-related
• Research Institution: Saga University (2022-2023); Osaka City University (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Ikeda Tomoya 佐賀大学, 医学部, 教授 (10620883)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: コルチゾール / 凍死 / ACTH / 胃粘膜病変

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Many cases of death due to cold exposure (hypothermia) are difficult to diagnose due to lack of characteristic findings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ``pathophysiological significance of cortisol associated with cold exposure'' and to clarify whether the dynamics of cortisol can serve as a diagnostic marker for cold exposure, and to assist in forensic diagnosis of freezing death.
When we measured blood cortisol and compared the cause of death groups, we found that cortisol levels were clearly higher in the death due to hypothermia group, so we concluded that measuring cortisol is useful in diagnosing death due to hypothermia. We also clarified part of the physiological mechanism by which cortisol increases during hypothermia. We also demonstrated the possibility that cortisol is involved in gastric mucosal lesions.

Free Research Field

法医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究において，寒冷暴露に伴うストレス反応と，他のストレス要因に対する反応時のコルチゾールを定量的に比較評価することで，コルチゾールの上昇が特異的所見のない凍死の新たなかつ客観的な診断基準の１つになることを明らかにできたことで，社会的意義としての死因鑑定精度の向上が期待できる．また，コルチゾール上昇の生理学的機序を検討し，胃粘膜出血にコルチゾールが関与している可能性を示唆することができたことで，法医診断的意義のみならず，臨床医学分野における低体温に伴う胃粘膜異常や免疫系異常の病態解明にも役立つものと考える．