Influence of intraperitoneal administration of calcium on body temperature and resistance to thermal stress in rats.

Intraperitoneal administration of calcium excess (11.26--21.18 mmol/kg of body weight) in rats at room temperature caused a distinct, significant decrease in body temperature (p less than 0.001). H ypothermic animals obtained in this way demonstrated, however, a significant decrease in resistance to quick heating as compared to controls. It was manifested by lower (by approx. 1.4 degrees C) lethal temperature (p less than 0.001), shorter (by approx. 8 min 12 sec) survival time (p less than 0.02) and higher rate of body temperature increase (by approx. 0.05 degrees C/min, p less than 0.001) in comparison with control rats.