Comparison of Tissue Respiration in Mice Exposed to Heat and Cold

¹ From the Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana

Oxygen uptake of liver, kidney and brain slices from cold-and heat-exposed adult, male mice was studied using the Warburg constant volume respirometer. In general, oxygen uptake showed certain similarities for both groups. The greatest oxygen increase from the control was observed after 72 hours of cold or heat exposure. For liver slices this was 21 and 6%, respectively; for kidney it was 23 and 27%; and for brain 33 and 31%, respectively. The lowest rate of oxygen uptake was seen after 48 hours of cold or heat exposure. For liver slices this was –27 and 6%; kidney, –7 and +14%; and for brain –10 and –2%, respectively. The mortality rate was increased in the heat-exposed more than in the cold-exposed animals. It is concluded that the response of oxygen uptake of these tissues from animals exposed to these divergent stresses (cold and heat) conforms to the pattern of the General-Adaptation-Syndrome.