Overshoot and high equilibrium in body temperature responses of rats to ambient heat: relation to thermoregulatory ability and improvement in estimation of survival time in a hot environment.

Physiological significance of body temperature responses to ambient heat (BTRAH) with high overshoot or a high equilibrium phase was studied in relation to thermoregulatory ability. Subsequently, an attempt was made to predict survival time (ST) by measuring the period required to attain a colonic temperature (Tco) of 42.0 degrees C (t42.0), whereas ST hitherto having been calculated on the basis of a period until Tco attains 42.5 degrees C (t42.5). Tco of rat was monitored continuously with a Cu-Co thermocouple during exposure to an ambient temperature (Ta) of 42.5 degrees C. The lower the overshoot temperature (Tos) or the equilibrium temperature (Teq), the longer the rats survived in a hot environment. The present findings further suggest that these two types of BTRAH are immature variations of the typical triphasic BTRAH which is characteristic of heat resistant individuals. A new regression line of ST (Y) as a function of the t42.0 (X) was obtained for most rats as follows: Y = 0.963X + 43.85 (male); and Y = 0.973X + 39.10 (female). This equation enabled to calculate ST without thermal death. However, the former approach based on t42.5 must be applied yet in small number of rats which showed the irregular BTRAHs with Tos or Teq higher than 42.0 degrees C. Delayed influence on survival and fecundity at a Ta of 24 degrees C were not found during one year following this hyperthermia up to 42.5 degrees C.