Hypoxia-induced metabolic and core temperature changes in the squirrel monkey.

To identify components of reduced core temperature (Tre) with exposure to hypoxia, oxygen uptake (VO2) and skin temperatures were measured in chair-restrained squirrel monkeys during conditions of 21% O2, 11% O2, and 11% O2 + 5% CO2. Exposure to 11% O2 resulted in a 20% decrease in VO2 and a 1.8 degrees C reduction of Tre with skin temperatures closely paralleling Tre. The addition of 5% CO2 to 11% O2 effectively blocked the decrease of both VO2 and Tre. The responses of one monkey (LD) exhibiting decreased Tre (greater than 2.0 degrees C) and 20% decrease in VO2 were compared to those of another (SD) exhibiting decreased Tre (less than 0.5 degrees C) and little change of VO2 under the same experimental conditions. Increased mean arterial blood pressure (BPa) and heart rate (HR) occurred for monkey SD, while for monkey LD BPa decreased and HR increased slightly. Arterial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and calculated arterial saturation of oxygen (SaO2) were higher, while PaCO2 was lower for monkey SD than for monkey LD. When 5% CO2 was added to 11% O2 both animals exhibited decreased PaO2, little change of Tre, VO2, PaCO2, arterial pH, and calculated SaO2, and increased BPa and HR. These data suggest that decreased Tre resulted from reduced heat production and reduced oxygen transport was primarily responsible for reduction of heat production.