Eosinophils of Blood During Prolonged Exposure to Cold and Chronic Administration of Cortisone Acetate. ∗ †

Abstract

Conclusions

Evidence has been presented to show that the circulating eosinophils do not remain depressed in rats exposed to cold for a period of 90 days. The level of eosinophils dropped 6 hours after the animals were exposed to the cold, but returned to above the normal values within 48 hours and in general remained high for the duration of the exposure. Different doses of cortisone acetate were administered to intact rats and it was determined that a daily dose of 100 μg was necessary to maintain a depressed level of eosinophils during the period of treatment. The evidence suggests that a eucorticoid state may develop during adaptation to cold. The permissive action of the adrenal gland and its relation to the adaptation of rats to a low environmental temperature is discussed.