Influence of lowered serum calcium level on body temperature and sensibility to thermal stress in rats.

Lowering of serum calcium level induced with intravenous injection of an EDTA Na2 solution caused in rats a statistically significant (p < 0.05) rise in body temperature. These hyperthermic animals exposed to high ambient temperature of +43 degrees C (316 K) had a significantly reduced survival time (p < 0.05). The lethal temperature and the mean rate of temperature rise were not different in both groups.