Abstract
Summary
Two groups of hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were inducted into hypothermia by the helium-cold method and survival time was determined. The induction time of one group of hamsters was reduced by clipping the fur prior to the induction procedure. Additional groups of fur-clipped and nonclipped control hamsters were used for determinations of plasma glucose and liver glycogen immediately following induction and at the onset of gasping (approximately 2 hr before death). The fur-clipped hamsters had a shorter induction time, a longer survival time, and higher plasma glucose and liver glycogen immediately following induction. At the onset of gasping both groups had similar, extremely low plasma glucose levels and the fur-clipped animals had lower liver glycogen values. Survival time in hypothermia correlates with the plasma glucose levels which decay exponentially during hypothermia. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the primary cause of death in the hypothermic hamster is failure of respiration due to the depletion of carbohydrate energy supplies and may explain why survival time in hypothermia is shorter than the normal hibernation time of the hamster.
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