Serum Electrolyte Levels in Hibernating Mammals

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Abstract
Serum calcium, potassium, specific gravity and blood hematocrit analyses were made on 4 species of hibernating animals, including 2 species of bats, hamster and thirteen-lined ground squirrel. Low serum calcium values were observed with active and hibernating Myotis lucifugus exposed to the cold. Cold exposure and hibernation did not result in large variations of the other measurements with the exception of a high serum potassium concentration in ground squirrels active in a cold environment. Differences and trends observed are related to species characteristics or to differences in the depth of hibernation.

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