Accession Number:

AD0653127

Title:

PERFORMANCE OF SMALL MAMMALS AT LOW BODY TEMPERATURES.

Descriptive Note:

Progress rept.,

Corporate Author:

GEORGETOWN UNIV WASHINGTON D C DEPT OF BIOLOGY

Personal Author(s):

• Panuska,Joseph A.

Report Date:

1967-04-30

Pagination or Media Count:

17.0

Abstract:

The study evaluates the effect of progressively induced low body temperature on trained performance. Approaches to the cause or causes of performance failure at critical body temperature levels are also presented. The value of the performance temperature suppression method for further behavioral study is proposed. Trained heat reinforcement performance was suppressed in the guinea pig at the same body temperature range as was previously reported for the rat, 23 - 25C, several degrees above the level of complete motor collapse. Other rodents and other behavioral methods were also used in the performance evaluations of unrestrained hypothermic subjects. Physiological studies begun include regional brain lipid analysis and a measurement of cerebral blood flow under the conditions of the hypothermia behavioral studies. A supplementary study on the effect of Dimethylsulfoxide on cold-exposed animals revealed a significant depression of oxygen consumption. This is related to the previously reported acceleration of cooling rate. DMSO, however, caused no additional depression on heart rate during whole body cooling. Author

Descriptors:

• (*HYPOTHERMIA
• BEHAVIOR)
• MAMMALS
• MOTOR REACTIONS
• PERFORMANCE(HUMAN)
• BODY TEMPERATURE
• BRAIN
• LIPIDS
• CEREBROVASCULAR SYSTEM
• BLOOD CIRCULATION
• SULFOXIDES
• OXYGEN CONSUMPTION

Subject Categories:

• Anatomy and Physiology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE