Electrophoresis of serum proteins and body fluid volumes during cold acclimation

Abstract

Albino rats exposed to 4° ± 2.0°C were sacrificed at 10, 20, 30 and 40 days. Serum electrophoretic patterns showed a marked decrease in the albumin fraction at 20, 30 and 40 days. Percentage increases in alpha1 and beta fractions occurred at different time periods but are interpreted as only apparent changes accompanying the greater albumin fall. Gamma globulin decreased at 10 and 40 days exposure. Alpha2 increased at all sampling periods and retained statistical significance when calculated as per cent of total globulins. Hematocrit remained unchanged throughout the sampling period. Plasma volume increased and remained elevated to the 40-day period. Thiocyanate space increased at the 10- and 20-day periods and subsequently declined, approaching control values at 40 days. Muscle water remained essentially unchanged despite suggestive changes in electrophoretic patterns of soluble muscle proteins. It appears that changes in plasma volume and osmotically active proteins are not complementary and act to the detriment of the animal during cold acclimation.