Sodium Pentobarbital on Temperature and Heart Rate of Rats Subjected to Gold. ∗

Conclusions

It was found that under a standard test of subjecting a rat to sodium pentobarbital and 5°C, previous exposure to cold modified the body temperatures and heart rates. After 16 hours previous exposure the rats had more ability to recover than did rats without previous exposure. After 37 to 45 days previous exposure, all of the rats had the ability to recover their body temperatures and heart rates. When these rats were allowed to remain at room temperature for periods of 30 to 83 days, most of the rats retained their ability to recover. These results are of interest from the standpoint of modification of a drug response to cold exposure which may be due to the cold exposure affecting the metabolic rate of the pentobarbital. However, no definite conclusions can be made as to the mechanisms involved in these results.