An analysis of the metabolic responses of rats exposed to cold

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Abstract
When young Holtzman rats (150 gm) were exposed to +5 ± 2°C for 10 days their metabolic rate (measured at 28°C) was elevated. Injection of sodium pentobarbital (30 mg/kg, i.p.) just prior to the metabolism determination lowered the metabolic rate of both control and cold-exposed animals, but did not alter the general pattern of the cold-induced elevation of the metabolic rate, so that the metabolism of the rats exposed to cold was still higher than that of the controls. When older rats (300 gm and more) were exposed to –5 ± 2°C for up to 10 days, the metabolic rate of the survivors was elevated also. In these animals, however, sodium pentobarbital administration lowered the metabolic rate of the cold-exposed animals to about the same level as that of the controls. This indicates that the older rats exposed to –5°C achieve protection against the cold environment primarily through changes which may be of neurogenic origin.

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