Temperature regulation in the new-born lamb. V. Summit metabolism

Abstract

"Summit metabolism" was estimated by measuring respiratory exchange during a 20 min period of falling rectal temperature. The rate of fall was controlled at about 1°C per 20 min, by varying the wind velocity while the lamb was exposed to conditions of high heat loss. At body temperatures near normal, summit metabolism was not predictable from rectal temperature. Below 36°C the metabolic rate was proportional to rectal temperature. When expressed as kilocalories per kilogram per hour, summit metabolism in young lambs was approximately constant at all body weights, and hence summit, metabolism per unit of surface area increased with increasing body weight. Heavy lambs are therefore able to maintain homeothermy under conditions of higher heat loss than light lambs. Summit metabolism was usually established at about 17 kcal kg-1 hr-1 within half an hour of birth, i.e. heat production increased rapidly to 15 times foetal levels or five times "basal" levels. There was no increase after ingestion of milk, and the summit metabolic rate appeared to decline slowly with advancing age. It also declined during prolonged exposure to cold and during prolonged fasting, particularly in very young lambs. Blood analyses indicated a great mobilization of fat and carbohydrate during exposure to conditions which evoked a summit response. The practical significance of these results is discussed.