Ability of Rat to Adapt to Stress of Light Restraint.

Abstract

Rats adapted to the stress of restraint (for 1 wk.) in a cylinder of wire mesh so that they did not become hypothermic when exposed to the stress in the cold. Before adaptation, 37% of the animals experienced a marked drop in body temp.; after the wk. of adaptation none became significantly hypothermic. One wk. later some of the animals again became hypothermic when exposed to the stress in the cold. The possible roles of emotional adaptation and adrenal cortical activity in producing the increased resistance to these stresses are discussed.