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Cold tolerance: behavioral differences following single or multiple cold exposures.

Steven Harrod¹, Mitchell Metzger, Nannette Stempowski

¹Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.

Physiology & Behavior

|August 15, 2002

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Repeated cold exposure builds cold tolerance in rats, enhancing their activity levels and rewarming speed. Contextual cues are crucial for developing this tolerance, suggesting behavioral measures can assess cold adaptation.

Area of Science:

Physiology
Behavioral Neuroscience

Background:

Repeated cold water exposure induces cold tolerance.
Cold tolerance is associated with physiological and behavioral changes.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate differences in spontaneous behavioral activity and rewarming rates between cold-tolerant and non-tolerant rats.
To explore the role of contextual stimuli in the acquisition of cold tolerance.

Main Methods:

Rats received either six daily cold exposures or a single exposure.
Spontaneous behavioral activity was measured using activity monitors and video analysis.
Body temperature was monitored during rewarming post-exposure.
Associative tolerance was assessed by altering the context of cold exposure.

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Main Results:

Cold-tolerant rats showed activity levels similar to non-exposed controls.
Rats with single cold exposures exhibited reduced activity.
Multiple cold exposures led to faster rewarming rates compared to single exposures.
Cold tolerance was lost when the cold stimulus was presented in an altered context.

Conclusions:

Cold-tolerant rats display normal behavioral activity and enhanced rewarming.
Acquisition of cold tolerance requires the processing of contextual stimuli.
Behavioral activity and rewarming rate serve as viable measures for assessing cold tolerance.