The effect of ethanol and cold-adaptation on the survival of guinea pigs in severe cold

✍ Scribed by Huttunen, Pirkko ;Penttinen, J. ;Hirvonen, J.

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1980
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 309 KB
• Volume: 85
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1437-1596
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00201292

✦ Synopsis

An acute ethanol dose of 2 g / k g shortened the survival time at -2 0 °C of guinea pigs both adapted to the cold and those reared in the warm, but no significant difference was observed between the adapted and nonadapted groups. Long-term ethanol treatment of 2 g / k g / d a y for 4 weeks, lengthened the survival time of the guinea pigs reared at room temperature, but did not affect the survival of the cold-adapted animals. The acute dose of 2g/kg shortened the survival time of the guinea pigs which had received the 4-week ethanol treatment and had been reared in the warm, but did not have the same effect on the cold-adapted animals. The improved survival rate at severe exposure acquired by adaptation to the cold was abolished by chronic alcohol administration.