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Cold-induced increases in phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) mRNA are mediated by non-cholinergic mechanisms in the rat adrenal gland.

Previously, we reported that cold stress induces a rapid increase in adrenomedullary PNMT mRNA levels, followed by concomitant increases in PNMT immunoreactivity (10). In the present study, the extracellular signals mediating this adaptive response to stress were investigated using northern analysis and RNA slot-blot hybridization. Although adrenal denervation significantly diminished cold-induced increments in adrenomedullary PNMT mRNA levels, it did not completely abolish the cold stress response. In contrast to these results, splanchnectomy completely inhibited cold-induced increments in TH mRNAs in the same tissue samples. These findings indicate that the effects of cold exposure on PNMT mRNA levels are mediated by both neural and non-neural mechanisms, and that adrenal PNMT and TH are differentially regulated in response to cold stress. Surprisingly, the neural component of the PNMT stress response could not be attenuated by peripheral administration of chlorisondamine, a powerful nicotinic ganglionic blocking agent. In contrast, chlorisondamine was effective in inhibiting sympathetic neural activity, as judged by the drug's ability to completely block increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and plasma catecholamines resulting from spinal cord stimulation in pithed rats. The administration of atropine, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, also failed to inhibit cold-induced alterations in adrenal PNMT mRNA. These results suggest that the trans-synaptic induction of adrenal PNMT mRNA involves a non-cholinergic component, and that cold-induced increases in PNMT mRNA are not coupled to acetylcholine-mediated adrenal catecholamine release.

Adrenal Glands↗

Increasing hand efficiency at cold temperatures by training hand vasodilation with a classical conditioning-biofeedback overlap design.

The prolonged exposure of hands to cold environments leads to substantial cold pain and severe deterioration of manual dexterity, finger dexterity, hand strength, and tactile sensitivity. This study taught volunteers to warm their hands at -14 degrees Celsius and measured the hand efficiency effects. The subjects were six male and female nonsmoking volunteers. All research was conducted in a cold chamber during the warm summer months to eliminate seasonal factors. A combined multiple-baseline/ABA single-subject design with multiple replications was used. Each subject's hand performance was obtained for both hands in warm and in cold conditions. One hand was trained and both hands were retested in the cold. The second hand was trained and both hands were retested in the cold. Finally, the subject inhibited warming while in the cold (treatment removal) and both hands were tested again. The treatment itself used biofeedback instrumentation to extend and enlarge previously classically conditioned vasodilative episodes. The procedure was found to be effective for bringing about temperature changes in the cold. Large treatment effects were found on all hand efficiency measures. The results suggest wide implications for the workplace, for theory, and for future research.

Acclimatization↗

Hematological variations at rest and during maximal and submaximal exercise in a cold (0 degree C) environment.

The affect of negative thermal stress on hematological variables at rest, and during submaximal (sub ex) and maximal exercise (max ex) were observed for young males who volunteered in two experimental sessions, performed in cold (0 degree C) and in normal room temperature (20 degrees C). At rest, hematological variables such as RBC and derivates Hb and Hct were significantly increased (P less than 0.05) during cold stress exposure, while plasma volume decreased. The findings of this study suggest that the major factor inducing hypovolemia during low thermal stress can be imputed to local plasma water-shift mechanisms and especially to a transient shift of plasma water from intra- to extravascular compartments. Rest values for WBC and platelets (Pla) were also slightly increased during cold stress exposure. However this increase can partly be related to hemoconcentration but also to the cold induced hyperventilation activating the lung circulation. Maximal exhaustive exercise induced, in both experimental temperatures, significant (P less than 0.05) increments of RBC, Hb, Hct, and WBC while plasma volume decreased. However, Pla increase was less marked. On the other hand, cold stress raised slightly the observed variations of the different hematological variables. Submaximal exercise induced a similar, though non-significant, pattern for the different hematological variables in both experimental conditions. Observed plasma volume (delta PV%) reduction appears during exercise. However cold stress induced resting plasma volume variations that are transferred at every exercise level. Neither exercise nor cold inducement significantly modified the hematological indices (MCH, MCV, MCHC). In conclusion hematological variables are affected by cold stress exposure, even when subjects perform a physical activity.

Acclimatization↗

Tyrosine ameliorates a cold-induced delayed matching-to-sample performance decrement in rats.

Exposure to cold stress has been shown to impair short-term, or working, memory which may be related to a reduction in brain catecholamines. Administration of the catecholamine precursor tyrosine may alleviate a cold-stress-induced memory impairment by preventing a deficit in brain catecholamine levels. To test this hypothesis, eight rats performed a delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) task at an ambient temperature of either 2 degrees C (cold) or 22 degrees C, following intraperitoneal administration of saline or tyrosine (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg). Rats administered saline prior to 22 degrees C exposure demonstrated a characteristic delay gradient in which accuracy decreased as the delay interval between sample and comparison stimuli increased from 1 to 16 s. Consistent with previous research, and relative to 22 degrees C exposure sessions, matching accuracy during 2 degrees C exposure sessions was reduced, which is attributed to the effect of cold on short-term, or working, memory. In particular, during cold exposure sessions matching accuracy was significantly reduced at the longer delay intervals, relative to matching accuracy at 22 degrees C. Additional analysis of cumulative matching errors within sessions showed that during exposure to cold, errors occurred at a constant rate throughout the session, indicating rats' performance was equally debilitated by the stressor over the entire session. During cold exposure sessions, the higher doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg tyrosine significantly improved overall matching accuracy relative to saline, but did not completely reverse the effect of cold exposure, as overall matching accuracy did not increase entirely to levels obtained at 22 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Cardiovascular adjustments and pain during repeated cold pressor test.

The cold pressor test is used in the clinical testing of the autonomic nervous system. However, little is known about changes in the autonomic control of the cardiovascular system during repeated challenge with cold. Heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), T-wave amplitude of ECG (TWA), blood pressure, body temperature and perceived pain were recorded in 18 male subjects during three CPTs which consisted of four minutes immersion of the left hand into cold water at 1 degree C. Breathing during CPT was either spontaneous or paced at 0.23 Hz or 0.1 Hz. Pain intensity and HR decreased and TWA increased during the cold immersion and in the resting period preceding cold in the second and third trials. Systolic and pulse blood pressure increased in resting periods in the third trial. RSA increased in the second and third cold challenge during paced breathing at 0.1 Hz only. A decrease in body temperature (0.48 degree C) at the end of the experiment correlated marginally with HR changes. Our study shows that sustained cardiovascular changes are induced by the first challenge with cold, and persist or increase with repeated cold pressor tests.

Adult↗

Isolation of cold stress-responsive genes in the reproductive organs, and characterization of the OsLti6b gene from rice (Oryza sativa L.).

During their reproductive stage, rice crops often are exposed to cold stress, which leads to sterility and reduced yields. To understand the cold response mechanism at that stage, we used an mRNA differential display method to isolate cold-responsive genes from pre-anthesis flowers. Approximately 5,000 transcripts were identified here, of which 123 were found to be displayed differentially between the control (30 degrees C) and cold-treated (12 degrees C) flowers. Among them, 26 were analyzed by northern analysis; 8 of those clones were confirmed as cold-responsive. OsLti6b, encoding a hydrophobic protein homologous to Arabidopsis RCI2, was analyzed in detail. RNA blot analysis revealed that its transcript is increased by cold, salt, drought, or ABA treatments. In situ hybridization indicated that this transcript is highly accumulated in the ovaries and stamens of cold-treated flowers, particularly in the anther walls and vascular tissues of the filaments. Over-expression of OsLti6b increased cold tolerance as revealed by seedling wilting rates and ion leakages of mature leaves, demonstrating that the extent of the tolerance correlates well with its expression level.

Cold Temperature↗

The influence of cold stress and a 36- h fast on the physiological responses to prolonged intermittent walking in man.

In a previous study, rectal temperature (Tre) was found to be lower, and oxygen consumption (VO2) and the respiratory exchange ratio (R) were higher in a cold (+5 degrees C), wet and windy environment (COLD), compared with a thermoneutral environment during intermittent walking at approximately 30% of peak VO2 (Weller AS, Millard CE, Stroud MA et al. Am J Physiol 272:R226-R233, 1997). The aim of the present study was to establish whether these cold-induced responses are influenced by prior fasting, as impaired thermoregulation has been demonstrated in cold-exposed, resting men following a 48-h fast. To address this question, eight men attempted a 360-min intermittent (15 min rest, 45 min exercise) walking protocol under COLD conditions on two occasions. In one condition, the subjects started the exercise protocol approximately 120 min after a standard meal (FED/ COLD), whereas in the other the subjects had fasted for 36 h (FASTED/COLD). The first two exercise periods were conducted at a higher intensity (HIGHER, 6 km x h[-1] and 10% incline), than the four subsequent exercise periods (LOW, 5 km x h[-1] and 0% incline). There was no difference in the time endured in FED/ COLD and FASTED/COLD. In FASTED/COLD compared with FED/COLD, R was lower during HIGHER and LOW, and Tre was lower during LOW, whereas there was no difference in VO2, mean skin temperature and heart rate. Therefore, although the 36-h fast impaired temperature regulation during intermittent low-intensity exercise in the cold, wet and windy environment, it was unlikely to have been the principal factor limiting exercise performance under these experimental conditions.

Adult↗

beta3-Adrenergic-dependent and -independent mechanisms participate in cold-induced modulation of insulin signal transduction in brown adipose tissue of rats.

During cold exposure, homeothermic animals mobilize glucose with higher efficiency than at thermoneutrality. An interaction between the insulin signal transduction machinery and high sympathetic tonus is thought to play an important role in this phenomenon. In the present study, rats were exposed to cold during 8 days and treated, or not, with a beta3-adrenergic agonist, BRL37344 sodium 4-2-2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl amino propyl phenoxy-acetic acid sodium (BRL37344), or antagonist, SR59230A 3-(2-ethylphenoxy)-[(1S)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphth-1-ylamino]-(2S)-2-propanol oxalate (SR59230A), to evaluate the cross-talk between insulin and beta3-adrenergic intracellular signaling in brown adipose tissue. The drugs did not modify food ingestion, body temperature, and body weight in control and cold-exposed rats. Treatment of control rats with BRL37344 led to higher insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptors, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and ERK, higher insulin-induced IRS-1/PI3-kinase association, and higher [Ser(473)] phosphorylation of Akt. Cold exposure alone promoted higher insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptors, IRS-1, IRS-2, and ERK, and higher insulin-induced IRS-1 and IRS-2/PI3-kinase association. Except for the regulation of ERK, SR59230A abolished all the cold-induced effects upon the insulin signal transduction pathway. However, this antagonist only partially inhibited the cold-induced increase of glucose uptake. Thus, the sympathetic tonus generated during cold-exposure acts, in brown adipose tissue, through the beta3-adrenergic receptor and modulates insulin signal transduction, with the exception of ERK. However, insulin-independent mechanisms other than beta3-adrenergic activation participate in cold-induced glucose uptake in brown adipose tissue of rats.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Blood flow to the brown adipose tissue of conscious young rabbits during hypoxia in cold and warm conditions.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) non-shivering thermogenesis is stimulated by cold temperature and depressed by hypoxia. We investigated the extent to which changes in metabolic rate during cold and hypoxia, singly or combined, were accompanied by changes in BAT perfusion. One-month-old rabbits were instrumented for measurements of regional blood flow by the coloured microsphere technique. One group of rabbits was tested in warm (24 degrees C, n=17), and the other in cold (13 degrees C, n=9) conditions, first in normoxia (inspired oxygen concentration FIO2 about 21%, arterial oxygen saturation SaO2 approximately 88%) followed by hypoxia (FIO2 approximately 10%, SaO2 approximately 54%). In warm conditions, oxygen consumption (VO2, measured by an open-flow method) averaged 22 ml.kg-1.min-1 (STPD), and BAT blood flow 98 ml.100g-1.min-1. In hypoxia, VO2 dropped on average to 87%, whereas BAT flow dropped to 43% of the normoxic values. In the cold during normoxia, VO2 averaged 31 ml.kg-1.min-1 (STPD), and BAT blood flow was 155 ml.100g-1.min-1. In cold and hypoxia VO2 dropped to 19 ml.kg-1.min-1 (STPD) (i.e. 60% of the normoxic value), whereas BAT blood flow was not altered significantly (148 ml.100g-1.min-1). Hence, BAT blood flow decreased in hypoxia in absence of cold stimuli, whereas it remained high when hypoxia occurred during cold, despite the major drop in VO2. We conclude that cold is more important than hypoxia in determining BAT perfusion, and that changes in BAT blood flow are not a mechanism for the hypoxic control of V.O2.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗

The effect of hydrotherapy on the incidence of common cold episodes in children: a randomised clinical trial.

UNLABELLED: Few interventions have proved to be effective in the prevention and treatment of common colds. Anecdotal reports suggest the possible beneficial effect of hydrotherapy (stimulation of the body surface with warm and cold water). This study's objective was to evaluate the clinical effect of hydrotherapy on common colds in children. Children aged 3-7 years with six or more common cold episodes during the preceding 12 months were randomised to receive either daily inhalation of normal saline in the control group or daily inhalation plus daily hydrotherapy in the experimental group for 12 months. The main outcome measurements were incidence, duration and severity of common cold episodes as reported by the children's parents in a daily symptom diary. Groups did not differ at baseline with regard to age, gender, or number of cold episodes in the year before the study. Diaries were available from 81 patients in the control group and 65 patients in the experimental group. In the study period, there were no significant differences in the incidence of colds (control vs. experimental group, mean +/- SD, 4.8+/-3.5 vs. 4.1+/-3.3 episodes) or the average duration of episodes (7.7+/-3.5 vs. 7.6+/-3.8 days). CONCLUSION: This study does not demonstrate any beneficial effect of hydrotherapy on preschool children with frequent common colds.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Cold pressor thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy was performed during cold pressor stimulation in 36 patients aged 36 to 69 years. Thirty-one patients had coronary artery disease and 5 patients did not, as confirmed by coronary cineangiography. Thallium-201 (1.5 to 2 mCi) was injected at 30 seconds of the cold pressor stimulation. The product of systolic pressure X heart rate increased from a baseline of 77.4 +/- 16 (standard deviation [SD]) to 103.6 +/- 17 at 30 seconds of the cold pressor test (p less than 0.0005). Transient perfusion deficits developed in 24 of 31 patients with coronary artery disease (sensitivity 77%), and all 5 patients without coronary artery disease had normal scintigrams. The sensitivity in detecting coronary artery disease was 40% in patients with 1 vessel disease, 91% in patients with 2 vessel disease, and 100% in patients with 3 vessel disease. Exercise electrocardiograms (available in 29 of 36 patients) were positive for ischemia in 18 of 24 patients with coronary artery disease and in 1 of 5 patients without coronary artery disease (sensitivity 75% and specificity less than 80%). Exercise thallium-201 scintigrams, obtained in 16 patients, were positive in 11 patients with coronary artery disease and positive cold pressor thallium-201 scintigrams. Five patients without coronary artery disease and with normal cold pressor thallium-201 scintigrams had normal exercise thallium-201 scintigrams. Coronary cineangiography performed during cold pressor stimulation in 6 patients who had positive cold pressor and exercise thallium-201 scintigrams did not show coronary spasm. Our data indicate that cold pressor thallium-201 scintigraphy offers promise as a noninvasive test in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease and may be used in patients in whom exercise testing is not feasible.

Adult↗

Ingestive behavior and body temperature of pigeons during long-term cold exposure.

Pigeons well adapted to living in 21 degrees C ambient temperature (T(a)) were continuously exposed to cold T(a) for 6 days (Experiment 1) or 30 days (Experiment 2). The pigeons lived on a 12:12 L:D cycle where they could obtain short access to food and water at any time in the light phase by making 12 keypeck responses. Across the two experiments, the levels of cold exposure were 6 degrees C, 1 degrees C, and 0.6 degrees C. In cold, total daily food intake increased gradually across the first few days of the exposure, and the new level of food intake was inversely related to T(a). The daily ratio of total water drunk to total food eaten averaged approximately 1.3 in 21 degrees C, fell to approximately 1.0 on day 1 of cold exposure, and remained at that level for as long as 30 days. The day-night cycle in core body temperature was not changed by cold exposure. The bimodal temporal pattern of feeding in the light phase, which is characteristic of pigeons in moderate T(a), was preserved in the cold although the absolute level of feeding activity was enhanced. An analysis of the ways individual pigeons achieved total daily food intake by combining a number of feeding episodes with an average amount eaten per episode revealed considerable variation between birds, but a relatively constant feeding style within bird over time. In the colder temperatures used, however, the pigeons all increased the number of feeding episodes per day. The results provide the first detailed analysis of cold-induced changes in ingestive behavior in the pigeon and raise several questions about the behavioral expression of cold-sensitive regulatory processes.

Animals↗

Cold-induced bronchospasm in normal and sensitized rabbits.

In anesthetized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated rabbits, changes in lung resistance induced by cooling the inspired air were studied under dry air conditions. Airway response to cold was measured in normal animals and in rabbits sensitized to bovine serum albumin. The magnitude of cold-induced bronchospasm was significantly greater in sensitized than in normal rabbits but the time course for recovery of control lung resistance during rewarming was the same in both groups and lasted longer than 4 min. Inhalation of a nebulized aerosol of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) markedly reduced cold-induced bronchospasm and shortened the recovery period, which then lasted only 20 to 30 sec. Vagotomy abolished the airway response to cold air in all cases and this was observed whether the vagus nerves were cut before or after SCG inhalation. SCG or vagotomy exerted the same effect on the response to cold air in normal or sensitized rabbits. Sensitized animals showed an hyperresponsiveness to histamine as well as to cold air. These results suggest that cold-induced bronchospasm results from a vagally mediated reflex whose effects are only enhanced and prolonged by a local release of humoral factors, linked to the reflex path. The increased response to cold air in the sensitized rabbits seems to correspond to non-specific hyperresponsiveness of bronchial smooth muscle rather than to an increased local release of inflammatory mediators.

Aerosols↗

Tyrosine reverses a cold-induced working memory deficit in humans.

Acute exposure to cold stress has been shown to impair short-term, or working, memory, which may be related to reduction in, or disruption of, sustained release of brain catecholamines. Administering a supplemental dose of the catecholamine precursor tyrosine may alleviate cold stress-induced memory impairments by preventing cold-induced deficits in brain catecholamine levels. The present experiment determined whether administration of tyrosine would prevent a cold-induced working memory deficit, using a computer-based delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) memory task. Eight male volunteers performed the DMTS task for 30 min at an ambient temperature of either 4 degrees C (cold) or 22 degrees C following a 30-min preexposure period and 2 h after ingesting 150 mg/kg of L-tyrosine or placebo. Subjects demonstrated a decline in matching accuracy on the DMTS task as delay interval increased, such that matching accuracy following a 16-s delay between sample and comparison stimuli was lower than that following a delay of 2 or 8 s. Consistent with previous research, and relative to 22 degrees C exposure sessions, matching accuracy during 4 degrees C exposure sessions was reduced significantly following placebo administration, which is attributed to the effect of cold exposure on short-term, or working, memory. Administration of tyrosine significantly improved matching accuracy at the longest delay interval most affected by cold exposure, such that matching accuracy in the cold following tyrosine was at the same level as matching accuracy following placebo or tyrosine administration at 22 degrees C. Tyrosine administered prior to 22 degrees C exposure had no effect on DMTS performance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Ethanol effect on activation and maintenance of cold stress response in immature rats.

Rats at thermoneutral ambient temperature (Ta) exhibit change in thermoregulatory response to ethanol (EtOH) from 2 to 15 days of age. In the present study, rats at 2-3, 8-9, and 14-15 days of age were administered either saline or EtOH (4 g/kg b.wt.;IP) using two different routines to determine EtOH effect on specific cold defense mechanisms. Injection of EtOH in the first routine occurred after exposure to cold Ta, to determine effect on maintenance of cold thermogenesis. EtOH-induced metabolic depression increased from 3 to 8 days of age, with little change after this time. Injection of EtOH in the second routine was at thermoneutral Ta, followed at 20 min postinjection by rapid exposure to cold Ta to determine effect on activation of cold thermogenesis. EtOH-treatment delayed onset of cold thermogenesis at 2-3 and 14-15 days of age, and completely eliminated 8-9-day-old response to cold Ta. Rats exposed to cold Ta at 2-3 days of age exhibited a slower rate of EtOH absorption and lower blood EtOH concentration than rats in the older groups, to explain some age differences in EtOH response.

Animals↗

Activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis during exposure to cold.

It seems clear from the studies reviewed here that there is adequate evidence to support the concept of a biphasic response of the thyroid gland to cold as first postulated by Moll et al. (1972). The initial response to acute exposure to cold begins at the level of the hypothalamus as a result of either neural stimuli from skin and other areas and/or blood of somewhat lower than normal temperature reaching the hypothalamus (Andersson et al., 1963). As a result, the secretion of norepinephrine and/or dopamine may increase, and serotonin and/or somatostatin may decrease. The net result of these is an increase in the release of TRH from the hypothalamus. This, in turn, stimulates the cascade for the release of TSH from the anterior pituitary gland and thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland. Moll et al. (1972) postulated the lack of a feedback limb in this acute phase, and, indeed, this may be the case. It is possible, however, that certain hormones, such as somatostatin, norepinephrine, T3, and T4 could act in the capacity of feedback inhibitors. Additional experiments will be required to assess this possibility. The transitional link between the acute (less than 1 day) and chronic (greater than 1 day) phases of the response of the thyroid gland to cold could be T4 itself. An increase in the concentration of T4 in plasma has been reported to increase peripheral deiodination of T4 to T3 by kidneys and liver of rats. There are no studies at present to indicate that hepatic conjugation can be increased by elevation of plasma levels of T4 and T3. If it can, these responses would provide adequate reasons as to why peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones increases during chronic exposure to cold. The time-course for these changes to occur needs to be studied in greater detail to establish the sequence of events following acute exposure to cold. The latter may also increase urinary excretion of T4 and T3 in man, but not the rat. This suggests that another aspect of exposure to cold needing additional study is measurement of the binding affinities of T4 and T3 for their transport proteins during exposure to cold as compared to affinities prior to exposure to cold. If binding affinities are reduced, the amount of free hormones would increase and, consequently the likelihood of being excreted into urine and conjugated by the liver would also increase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Central mechanism of neural activation with cold acclimation of rats using Fos immunohistochemistry.

The expression of Fos protein in the rat diencephalon, brain stem, cerebellum, and spinal cord was investigated using immunohistochemistry during chronic cold exposure, in order to clarify the neural regions involved in the thermoregulatory responses and the central mechanism of neural activation with cold acclimation. Numerous Fos-positive cells were observed in many brain regions after cold exposure and changes in the number of Fos-positive cells were analyzed quantitatively. Fos-positive regions were classified into three groups on the basis of the expression period of Fos protein. The first group was where a significant number of Fos-positive cells were seen 3 h and 24 h after cold exposure, but not observed 14 days after exposure; the regions included the lateral septal nucleus (LS), parvocellular paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (pPVN), posterior hypothalamic area (PH), supramammillary nucleus (SuM), locus coeruleus (LC), dorsal tegmental nucleus (DTg), vestibular nucleus (Ves), and nucleus of solitary tract (Sol). The second group was where a significant number of Fos-positive cells were found 3 h, 24 h and 14 days after cold exposure; the regions included the preoptic hypothalamic area (POA), paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PV), lateral preoptic area (LPO), zona incerta (ZI), subparafascicular thalamic nucleus (SPF), lateral dorsal central grey (CGLD), lateral ventral central grey (CGLV), microcellular tegmental nucleus (MiTg), lateral lemniscus nucleus (LL), dorsal parabrachial nucleus (DPB), and the cerebellum. The third group was where Fos-positive cells were more numerous 14 days after cold exposure than they were after 3 h and 24 h of exposure; these regions included the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) and the spinal cord. These results demonstrate that the numbers and regions of Fos-positive cells in the rat brains changed during chronic cold exposure, and such changes may reveal the cellular adaptation of the thermogenic responsive neurons in the rat brain to cold acclimation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Seasonal dependence of the activity of antioxidant defence enzymes in the ground squirrel (Citellus citellus): the effect of cold.

1. The activity of antioxidant defense enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and GST) was analysed during the autumn and winter in the ground squirrel adapted to 30 degrees C and subsequently exposed to cold for 6 and 24 hr. 2. The liver CAT activity as well as the IBAT CAT and GSH-Px activities differed between animals adapted to 30 degrees C, studied in autumn, and those studied in winter. 3. MnSOD activity in the liver was increased in autumn but decreased in winter after 6 hr cold exposure reaching the control level 24 hr later. Cold exposure induced a decrease in CAT activity (except after 24 hr cold exposure in winter) and an increase in GSH-Px activity. Lower GST activity was found after 24 hr exposure to cold in winter. 4. The IBAT SOD activity decreased under the influence of cold during both seasons with a tendency to return to the control level only in winter. Cold exposure produced a decrease in GST in both seasons and CAT activity in autumn. GSH-Px activity was increased in winter only. 5. The results indicate a seasonal dependence of the activity of antioxidant defence enzymes in the ground squirrel. Seasonal influence was evidenced in animals exposed to cold as well.

Adaptation, Physiological↗