Figure 3.

Glucocorticoids Increase Supraclavicular Skin Temperature and Cold-Induced Thermogenesis

(A) Paired thermal images obtained from a subject on prednisolone (top panel) and placebo (lower panel) phases during cold exposure, showing increased skin temperature in the supraclavicular regions of interest (black ovals) on the prednisolone phase.

(B) Prednisolone (red columns) increased supraclavicular skin temperature compared with placebo (blue columns) during cold exposure only; shown as mean ± SEM (n = 9). Data are analyzed by paired t tests.

(C) The reduction in mean supraclavicular skin temperature in male (solid lines) and female (dotted lines) subjects, expressed as the absolute difference between warm and cold environment, induced by cold exposure, was attenuated by prednisolone treatment.

(D) Prednisolone increased energy expenditure during cold, but not warm, exposure.

(E and F) Prednisolone did not alter (E) chest temperature during warm or cold exposure and did not affect (F) the reduction in mean chest temperature induced by cold compared to warm exposure. ^∗p < 0.05 versus placebo.