Acclimatization to Cold Air; Hypothermia and Heat Production in the Golden Hamster

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Abstract
Adult golden hamsters were artificially cooled while their colonic temps. were being recorded by thermocouples. The lowest body temp. from which half recovered was 3.8[degree]C. Heat production was measured as oxygen consumption, air being drawn through a cylinder containing the animal and through a Pauling oxygen analyser. During sudden cooling, heat production augmented 6-fold, and then diminished progressively as the colonic temp. fell toward 4[degree] C. Breathing frequency and heart-beat frequency were not proportional to heat production during cooling. Heat production did not consistently increase as defense against body cooling below 5[degree] C. Total exchanges of heat were computed during cooling and during rewarming, and were compared with those of rats. Acclimatization to cold air was produced by sojourn in air of 4[degree] to 6[degree] C for 6 days, as shown by significant increase of resting minimal oxygen consumption. It decreased again after 3 weeks of no cooling. Certain other measurements showed no evidences of acclimatization. Spontaneous brief hypothermia and lethargy occurred in some hamsters kept in 5[degree] air. This graded imperceptibly into hibernation which lasted 2-4 days, with spontaneous rewarming of the body thereafter.
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