title: Body temperature and oxygen consumption of newborn rats at various ambient temperatures.
abstract: The thermogenic response and rectal temperature (Tre) of newborn rats (0 to 32 days old) on exposure to various ambient temperatures (Ta) were investigated. The O2 consumption (VO2 in ml . min-1 per 100 cm2 surface area) was measured for one rat at a time by means of a closed circuit system. The results were that (1) within the thermal neutral ranges, Tre stood at 36--37 degrees C regardless of the age and the value of VO2 was lowest at the age of 6--7 days, after this period increasing and reaching a level of 1.4 ml . min-1 . cm-2 X 10(-2) after 18--21 days old (the weaning period); (2) the thermogenic response to cold (delta VO2/--delta Ta) was higher at ages prior to the weaning period than after the weaning period; (3) in spite of the higher thermogenic responses, Tre decreased markedly on exposure to cold prior to the weaning period, because of a poor development of thermal insulation; and (4) the achievement of homeothermy of the rat at subneutral temperatures was observed after the weaning period.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D051381:Rats