The effect of benzodiazepine on the increase of oxygen consumption in cold exposed rats

1. Oxygen consumption and rectal temperature of warm and cold acclimated rats were measured after chronic and acute injections of saline or benzodiazepine (diazepam). 2. Benzodiazepine has blocked the increase in oxygen consumption of warm acclimated rats on exposure to cold. 3. After cold acclimation, the benzodiazepine did not affect the increase in oxygen consumption. 4. Benzodiazepine caused a slight hypothermia when injected chronically, but did not affect rectal temperature over a short period of time.