RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HYPOXIA, OXYGEN CONSUMPTION AND BODY TEMPERATURE

Abstract

The O2 consumption and body temp, of normal, thyroxin-injd. and thiouracil-treated rats were detd. at 5 altitude levels between 5280 and 40,000 ft. and at 3 environmental temp, levels between 18 and 37[degree]C. Oxygen consumption was detd. by CO2 absorption in a specially designed chamber and body temp, by means of a Cu-constantan thermocouple. The data obtained indicate that O2 availability becomes a limiting factor in O2 consumption, in normal rats, only at altitudes approaching 40,000 ft., but at much lower altitudes when the metabolism has been stimulated by cold or by thyroxin; and that reduced O2 consumption is, in general, accompanied by a fall in body temp., although in many cases the 2 factors appeared to vary independently.