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Metabolic and thermoregulatory responses to heat and cold in the Djungarian hamster,Phodopus sungorus

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Summary

Djungarian hamsters,Phodopus sungorus (31.1 g body weight) were exposed to ambient temperatures (T a ) between −35°C and +34°C. They tolerated severe cold stress but were less able to withstand heat. At −35° CT a , normal body temperature was maintained for several hours. Thereby maximum thermal insulation was calculated at 1.1 g·°C/mW, which is only slightly higher than expected from the hamsters body size. High levels of heat production (60 to 90 m W/g) were maintained for several hours, suggesting that well developed means of heat production are the main reason for cold tolerance of the Djungarian hamster.

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  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Verhaltensphysiologie, Erling-Andechs, Federal Republic of Germany

    Gerhard Heldmaier

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  1. Gerhard Heldmaier
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Heldmaier, G. Metabolic and thermoregulatory responses to heat and cold in the Djungarian hamster,Phodopus sungorus . J Comp Physiol B 102, 115–122 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691297

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691297

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