Extracellular volume, electrocardiogram and anion distribution in hibernating hamster ventricle.

The intracellular Cl concentration, [Cl]i, was found to be significantly larger and the extracellular volume (ECV), much smaller in ventricles of hibernating hamsters as compared to non-hibernators. The decreased ECV in ventricles of hibernators was consistent with an increased R wave component of the ECG, as well as a lower mean fraction tissue water, fH2O, of these tissues.