Thermal and metabolic responses of temperature-acclimated rats during cold and heat exposures

Some endocrine and metabolic responses to acute cold and heat exposures were observed in rats acclimated to cold, heat, or both cold and heat. Rats exposed to both cold (12 hr, 5 degrees C) and heat (12 hr, 34 degrees C) for 4 to 5 weeks (CHA) showed less fall of colonic temperature (Tc) in the cold (-5 degrees C) than heat-acclimated rats (34 degrees C, 4 to 5 weeks) (HA) and warm controls (WC), but a greater fall than cold-acclimated rats (5 degrees C, 4 to 5 weeks) (CA). CHA possessed a larger quantity of interscapular brown adipose tissue and showed greater cold-induced oxygen consumption (VO2) than WC and HA but less than CA. Blood glycerol levels rose similarly in all groups in the cold, while the increase in blood free fatty acids (FFA) levels was significantly greater in HA and smaller in CA than in WC and CHA. Acute cold exposure caused the elevation of plasma glucagon level in WC and HA, but not in CA and CHA. It lowered plasma insulin levels in HA, and the insulin/glucagon molar ratio (I/G) in WC, HA, and CHA. All groups showed the same increases in Tc during acute heat exposure (34 degrees C). However, the heat-induced increase in VO2 was greater in WC than in HA, CA, and CHA. Blood metabolite levels were not affected by acute heat exposure in all groups. Plasma glucagon levels decreased in CHA, while plasma insulin levels increased in WC and CA. I/G increased in WC and CHA. These results indicate that thermal and metabolic responses would be modified by previous exposures to cold, heat, and cold-heat.