Hippocampal and body temperature changes in rats during delayed matching-to-sample performance in a cold environment

Stephen T. Ahlers; John R. Thomas; Donna L. Berkey

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(91)90430-V

Hippocampal and body temperature changes in rats during delayed matching-to-sample performance in a cold environment

Stephen T. Ahlers^*, John R. Thomas, Donna L. Berkey

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

In order to study the effects of temperature changes induced by cold stress on working memory, telemetry thermistor probes were implanted into the hippocampal region of the brain and into the peritoneal cavity of rats. Temperatures in these regions were monitored while rats performed on a delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) task at ambient temperatures of 23°C and 2°C. Matching accuracy was significantly decreased during exposure to 2°C, indicating a marked impairment of short-term or working memory. Temperature in the hippocampus increased 2°C during exposure to 23°C, but only 1°C when the environmental temperature was 2°C. Body temperature showed a similar but less pronounced pattern in that cold exposure attenuated the increase in temperature observed when animals performed the DMTS task. These results suggest that cold-induced impairment of working memory may be associated with subtle temperature changes in the brain.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1013-1018
Number of pages	6
Journal	Physiology and Behavior
Volume	50
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(91)90430-V
State	Published - Nov 1991
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Biotelemetry
Cold stress
Delayed matching-to-sample
Hypothermia
Memory
Working memory

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10.1016/0031-9384(91)90430-V

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@article{a72d3173a6b94c85bbe15f6826bc9592,

title = "Hippocampal and body temperature changes in rats during delayed matching-to-sample performance in a cold environment",

abstract = "In order to study the effects of temperature changes induced by cold stress on working memory, telemetry thermistor probes were implanted into the hippocampal region of the brain and into the peritoneal cavity of rats. Temperatures in these regions were monitored while rats performed on a delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) task at ambient temperatures of 23°C and 2°C. Matching accuracy was significantly decreased during exposure to 2°C, indicating a marked impairment of short-term or working memory. Temperature in the hippocampus increased 2°C during exposure to 23°C, but only 1°C when the environmental temperature was 2°C. Body temperature showed a similar but less pronounced pattern in that cold exposure attenuated the increase in temperature observed when animals performed the DMTS task. These results suggest that cold-induced impairment of working memory may be associated with subtle temperature changes in the brain.",

keywords = "Biotelemetry, Cold stress, Delayed matching-to-sample, Hypothermia, Memory, Working memory",

author = "Ahlers, {Stephen T.} and Thomas, {John R.} and Berkey, {Donna L.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the input of David Shurtleff, Joseph B. Sbelton and Patricia J. Mullenix. This research was supported by Naval Medical Research and Development Command work unit 61152N.MR01XI01.001.1383. The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the Naval Service at large. The experiments reported herein were conducted according to the principles set forth in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council, DHHS Publication (NIH) 86-23-1985.",

year = "1991",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1016/0031-9384(91)90430-V",

language = "English",

volume = "50",

pages = "1013--1018",

journal = "Physiology and Behavior",

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AU - Ahlers, Stephen T.

AU - Thomas, John R.

AU - Berkey, Donna L.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the input of David Shurtleff, Joseph B. Sbelton and Patricia J. Mullenix. This research was supported by Naval Medical Research and Development Command work unit 61152N.MR01XI01.001.1383. The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the Naval Service at large. The experiments reported herein were conducted according to the principles set forth in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council, DHHS Publication (NIH) 86-23-1985.

PY - 1991/11

Y1 - 1991/11

N2 - In order to study the effects of temperature changes induced by cold stress on working memory, telemetry thermistor probes were implanted into the hippocampal region of the brain and into the peritoneal cavity of rats. Temperatures in these regions were monitored while rats performed on a delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) task at ambient temperatures of 23°C and 2°C. Matching accuracy was significantly decreased during exposure to 2°C, indicating a marked impairment of short-term or working memory. Temperature in the hippocampus increased 2°C during exposure to 23°C, but only 1°C when the environmental temperature was 2°C. Body temperature showed a similar but less pronounced pattern in that cold exposure attenuated the increase in temperature observed when animals performed the DMTS task. These results suggest that cold-induced impairment of working memory may be associated with subtle temperature changes in the brain.

AB - In order to study the effects of temperature changes induced by cold stress on working memory, telemetry thermistor probes were implanted into the hippocampal region of the brain and into the peritoneal cavity of rats. Temperatures in these regions were monitored while rats performed on a delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) task at ambient temperatures of 23°C and 2°C. Matching accuracy was significantly decreased during exposure to 2°C, indicating a marked impairment of short-term or working memory. Temperature in the hippocampus increased 2°C during exposure to 23°C, but only 1°C when the environmental temperature was 2°C. Body temperature showed a similar but less pronounced pattern in that cold exposure attenuated the increase in temperature observed when animals performed the DMTS task. These results suggest that cold-induced impairment of working memory may be associated with subtle temperature changes in the brain.

KW - Biotelemetry

KW - Cold stress

KW - Delayed matching-to-sample

KW - Hypothermia

KW - Memory

KW - Working memory

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U2 - 10.1016/0031-9384(91)90430-V

DO - 10.1016/0031-9384(91)90430-V

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AN - SCOPUS:0026009023

SN - 0031-9384

VL - 50

SP - 1013

EP - 1018

JO - Physiology and Behavior

JF - Physiology and Behavior

IS - 5

ER -

Hippocampal and body temperature changes in rats during delayed matching-to-sample performance in a cold environment

Abstract

Keywords

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