Effects of restraint on rats exposed to high temperature

¹ Department of Physiology, State University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

Male rats were placed in a cage either 8 in. x 8 in. x 10 in. (free) or 2 in. x 2 in. x 8 in. (restrained) and exposed to ambient temperatures between 40° and 60°C. ‘Restrained’ rats died sooner than ‘free’ animals at all temperatures. There was no significant difference between final rectal temperatures of free and restrained rats at ambient temperatures greater than 40°C; mean for these groups was 44.6°C. At 40°C the final rectal temperature was slightly lower in the restrained group (43.4° vs. 44.6°C). Restraint had no significant effect on the constituents of the blood examined. Serum potassium and specific gravity and blood hematocrits were increased and serum sodium was unchanged in heat-exposed rats compared with controls at 26°C. Serum calcium varied irregularly with exposure temperature.

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