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MORTALITY, GROWTH AND LIVER GLYCOGEN IN YOUNG MICE EXPOSED TO COLD
Author(s) -
Barnett S. A.,
Coleman Elizabeth M.,
Manly Brenda M.
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
quarterly journal of experimental physiology and cognate medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0033-5541
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1960.sp001441
Subject(s) - glycogen , biology , zoology , body weight , physiology , medicine , endocrinology
Mice of four strains were reared at 21°C. and then transferred to ‐3°C., in individual cages with nesting material. Controls were kept in similar conditions at 21°C. Many of the mice of two A strains died when stressed by cold at the age of 3 weeks, but none at 5 or 12 weeks. Many C57BL and GFF mice died when stressed at 5 weeks. Death usually occurred during the first 3 days, often on the first day. All stressed mice lost weight, especially in the first 2 days; if they survived, they made up the lost weight but they grew more slowly than the controls at all stages. Mice reared at ‐3°C. and stressed in that temperature when 3 weeks old had a lower mortality than those transferred from 21°C., and survivors did not lose weight. Mice reared at ‐3°C. and transferred to 21°C. at 3 weeks, although initially lighter, grew quickly and after 1 week were as heavy as the controls. Three‐week‐old mice stressed at ‐3°C. lost liver glycogen quickly whether they had been reared at 21°C. or ‐3°C. This was not due to a failure to eat, and there was no evidence that death resulted from inability to mobilize carbohydrate reserves.