EFFECTS OF COOLING ON NERVE CONDUCTION IN A HIBERNATOR (GOLDEN HAMSTER) AND NON-HIBERNATOR (ALBINO RAT)

Abstract
Excised tibial nerves from golden hamsters and albino rats were subjected to cooling from 20[degree]C. Whereas rat nerves ceased conducting at an avg. temp.of 9[degree]C, hamster nerves did not cease to conduct until cooled to an avg. temp.of 3.4[degree]. The action potential, conduction velocity, and excitability of hamster nerves showed a marked resistance to the effects of cooling as compared with nerves from rats. These findings are regarded as evidence of an intrinsic adaptation to cold possessed by a species capable of hibernation.