Age-related changes in thermoregulation in male albino rats

Male Sprague Dawley rats were followed longitudinally from 3 to 24 months of age. Resting oxygen consumption (VO2), measured in the thermal neutral zone (29 +/- 1.0 degrees C) decreased 47% between 3 and 24 months of age with a stable period from 6 to 9 months. Changes in rectal temperature in general followed changes in VO2. On the average the decline in rectal temperature from 3 to 24 months was 0.8 degrees C. Thermal conductance dropped initially from 3 to 6 months and remained stable during further age periods. Thermal circulation index rose slightly from 3 to 13 months, and dropped thereafter from 13 to 24 months. When animals were exposed to a mild cold challenge (18-19 degrees C for 90 min.), the increase in VO2 was the same from 3 to 13 months of age. At 24 months this increase was significantly higher. The capacity for non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) measured after norepinephrine stimulation declined from 3 to 6 months, remained stable from 6 to 9 months and declined to 13 months. The capacity for NST after a mild cold challenge was significantly decreased at 24 months of age. These results suggest that shivering thermogenesis (ST) may be the main source of heat production in the old organism when faced with a mild cold challenge. Since ST is more energy consuming than NST it may explain the accidental hypothermia which occurs often in the elderly.