ブルーインパルス展示飛行訓練時におけるパイロットの尿中カテコールアミン及び唾液中クロモグラニンAの変化について

Abstract

The Blue Impulse is the aerobatic team in Japan Air Self-Defense Force. During aerobatic flight, the degree of flight stress (physical and psychological) in pilots is considered to be very high. However, there are few reports concerning endocrinological responses (Catecholamine (CA) and Chromogranin-A (CgA)) to aerobatic flight. Then, we determined the levels of urinary CA and salivary CgA during actual aerobatic flight training. Urine and saliva were collected before and after the flight from eight healthy pilots to measure the levels of CA (Noradrenaline (NA) and Adrenaline (Ad)) and CgA. Although the levels of NA for postflight were unchanged for preflight, the levels of Ad for postflight were higher than for preflight. Otherwise, the levels of CgA for preflight were remarkably higher than control level as reported in previous literatures, and the levels of CgA for postflight were almost the same as for preflight. Our results suggest that the levels of Ad and CgA were presumably altered by psychological stress associated with aerobatic flight training in the Blue Impulse pilots.