Abstract
Summary
Oxygen consumption was examined in hamsters and rats exposed to normoxic mixtures of argon at 1 atm. In fasted and nonfasted animals, no marked change in O2 utilization was detectable at 22°. However, at 7° a significant decrease in oxygen consumption was observed where the animals were exposed in argon. The data are interpreted in terms of the greater thermal conductivity of nitrogen.
We thank Jane R. Utsler for technical assistance and Drs. Barbara Horwitz and J. P. Jordan for their suggestions in the preparation of this manuscript.
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