Effects of cold stress on brain regional calcium content in rats and mice

The calcium levels of striatum, cerebellum, cortex, medulla and diencephalon from rat brain were significantly reduced after 30 minutes of cold exposure at 8 degrees C even though body temperatures were no different from pre-cold exposure values. Calcium content remained significantly depressed in striatum, cerebellum and diencephalon after 2 hours of cold exposure, at which time body temperatures were significantly depressed. A similar effect of short-term cold stress on calcium content in these brain regions from mice was observed. These results are consistent with a role of calcium in the maintenance of temperature and in adaptive responses to cold environments.