Haematologic and Serum Protein Alterations in the Hypothermic Rat.

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Abstract
As a consequence of hypothermia in the rat (15[degree]C rectal temperature), there are significant increases in hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, serum total protein and albumin concentrations and in the serum albumin/globulin ratio. Hypothermia does not alter erythro-cyte count, hemoglobin concentration or mean corpuscular hemoglobin content. It is suggested that the increased hematocrit is due in part to the increase in mean corpuscular volume which appears to be in part a consequence of increase in erythrocyte water content. In addition, the hypothermic rat has a leukopenia with a relative decrease in neutrophiles and a relative increase in lymphocytes.