Physiological Studies on Hibernation in the Chipmunk

Abstract

This work might be divided into 2 phases, observations on normal chipmunks (Tamias striatus lysteri) throughout the yr. and on animals exposed to cold. The amt. of blood sugar and the wt. of the adrenal glands increased from Jan. to July, remained at a high level about 3 months, then regressed. The erythrocyte count was also highest in midsummer and lowest in winter. If chipmunks were put for 24 hrs. or more into a refrigerator at any time of yr., their blood sugar decreased; if it fell below 100 mg./100 ml., the body temp. fell and the animals usually became torpid.