You are here:
THERMOREGULATION AT A HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE FOLLOWING THE ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF ETHANOL IN THE RAT
Citation:
Gordon, C. AND F. Mohler. THERMOREGULATION AT A HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE FOLLOWING THE ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF ETHANOL IN THE RAT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-90/285 (NTIS PB91145037).
Description:
This study was designed to assess the thermoregulatory mechanisms responsible for the elevation in body temperature following ethanol administration when exposed to a high ambient temperature (Ta). ale rats of the Fischer 344 strain were gavaged with 20% ethanol at doses of 0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, or 8.0 g/kg and were then placed in an environmental chamber set at a Ta of 37 degrees C. Oxygen consumption (metabolic rate), evaporative water loss (EWL), and activity recorded for 60 min. olonic temperature was measured at the end of the 60 min period. thanol at doses of 2.0 g/kg and greater caused significant reductions in activity. WL was significantly depressed at doses 4.0 g/kg. olonic temperature of animals given 6.0 and 8.0 g/kg was significantly greater than controls. xygen consumption was unaffected by ethanol dose. isual observation of the behavior of the ethanol treated rats indicated that animals given doses 4.0 g/kg were unable to groom saliva onto their fur which would contribute to the reduction in EWL in the heat. owever, the data also suggest that ethanol treatment induced dehydration which further contributed to the reduction in EWL during heat exposure. hus, during exposure to hot Ta's, the ethanol-induced elevation in body temperature can be attributed to a suppression in both autonomic and behavioral mechanism of heat dissipation.