Effect of hyperthermia on blood levels of corticosterone and certain metabolites in rats during thiobutabarbital anaesthesia.

No changes were found in the serum levels of corticosterone, pyruvate and lactate in rats during general anaesthesia with thiobutabarbital (Brevinarcon) subjected to short-lasting hyperthermia in a high-temperature chamber (air temperature 50 degrees C, relative humidity 50%) in relation to a control group of rats during similar general anaesthesia at room temperature. However, in the serum of rats during hyperthermia (rectal temperature 40-41 degrees C) the glucose level was about 52% lower and FFA were about 39% lower than in rats kept under normothermic conditions (rectal temperature 36.5-37.5 degrees C) which may point to an increased requirement of tissues for energy-yielding substrates at higher body temperatures and/or increased insulin secretion.