EFFECTS OF LOW BODY TEMPERATURE ON TISSUE 

 OXYGEN UTILIZATION 



E. F. ADOLPH 



Low temperatures have two recognized physiological effects : to kill and to prolong 

 life. A task of nianv investigators is to define the circumstances under which each 

 effect occurs. We also want to identify physiological processes concerned in each 

 effect. 



I shall consider only deep hypothermia, in which hody temperatures stand within 

 a few degrees of lethal temperature. For all non-hihernating mammals, the lethal 

 temperature, from which they can not recover without assistance, is well above their 

 freezing points. But in the same range of temperatures, processes are slowed to the 

 extent that survival without an oxygen supply is much prolonged. 



Lethal effects of low temperatures have been attributed to many tissues and proc- 

 esses. I shall consider only one of these attributions, namely, that cold death is 

 generally due to lack of oxygen somewhere. I do not know how ancient this theory 

 may be. During World War II it was promoted by Lutz, Werz, and others. I shall 



400 



300- 



200 



0° 10° 20° 30° 40° 



Fig. 1. — Modifications in cardiorespiratory functions with body temperatures in unanesthetized 

 rats. Each band includes massed data ±1 standard deviation. Pressures from Hansen; other data 

 from Adoli)b, 1951. 



44 



