Acclimatization to Cold in Antarctica as shown by Rectal Temperature Response to a Standard Cold Stress

Abstract

ANIMALS acclimatized to cold have been shown to maintain their deep body temperature at normal levels under conditions cold enough to induce hypothermia in unacclimatized animals^1,2. Similar studies on men presumed to be acclimatized have given conflicting results. Some investigations^3,4 have suggested that there is an improved ability to maintain rectal temperature, others^5,6 have shown no change, while yet another⁷ has shown a diminished ability to maintain rectal temperature. Such conflicting findings have led some workers to the conclusion that man does not acclimatize to cold, possibly for the reason that he is rarely exposed to sufficient cold stress to induce acclimatization. It was therefore thought desirable to investigate the effect of residence in the seasonally varying but always cold climate of Antarctica on men's responses to a test cold exposure.