Physiological characteristics of rats and ground squirrels during prolonged lethargic hypothermia

¹ Department of Physiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York

After intensive cooling, rats can be maintained at constant body temperature during several hours in a cylinder surrounded by cold water. The rats live in lethargic hypothermia at a body temperature of 15°C for 8–10 hours but can recover only if the hypothermia has not lasted more than 5.5 hours, average time of ‘biological survival.’ After 6 or more hours at 15°C adult rats showed irreversible hemoconcentration, hypoglycemia, drop in arterial blood pressure and low pH of the blood, but no change in pulse rate. Artificially cooled ground squirrels survived 110 hours at a body temperature of 10°C, ‘biological survival’ time being only 75 hours. Hemoconcentration, low arterial blood pressure and hypoglycemia have also been found in lethargic ground squirrels during the last part of survival. They cannot be rescued by rewarming. The deeply cooled animal with stabilized temperature is in a physiological state that changes with time and ultimately leads to death. A recovery prognosis during long-term hypothermia has been attempted, and the cause of death has been discussed.

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