OSMOTIC REGULATION IN THE TISSUES OF HIBERNATING MAMMALS
Abstract
A new type of freezing point depression osmometer is described which utilizes stream-mixing as a mechanism of temperature control. When hydration of diaphragm sections incubated at 6 C was compared to that of diaphragm sections incubated at 37 C and to maximally hydrated diaghragm sections, it was found that hamster tissues swell less in vitro at low temperatures than do those of rats. Diaphragms of hibernating hamsters seemed to be more consistent than those of awake hamsters in this respect. Diaphragms of ground squirrels may also swell less than those of rats by this criterion. Loss of solids from incubated diaphragms is less at 6 C than at 37 C in vitro in all groups except awake ground squirrels. In awake hamster incubated diaphragms, solid loss is increased at 6 C by the presence of NaF. Diaphragms of hibernating hamsters and ground squirrels, however, resist this effect. Saturated fat in the diet of awake hamsters tends to abolish the resistance of their diaphragms to cold swelling. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0276017
Entities
People
- John Steele Willis