Comprehensive Physiology Wiley Online Library

Adaptations: Some General Characteristics

Full Article on Wiley Online Library



Abstract

The sections in this article are:

1 Stressor–Strain Relationships
2 Kinetics of Acclimation and Deacclimation
3 Classification of Adaptive Environments
4 Cross‐Acclimations
4.1 Methods to Study Cross‐Acclimation
4.2 Cross‐Acclimation between Cold and Hypoxia
4.3 Cross‐Acclimation between Cold and Heat
4.4 Cross‐Acclimation between Restraint and Either Cold or Hypoxia
4.5 Cross‐Acclimation between Heat and Hypoxia/Anoxia
4.6 Cross‐Acclimation between X‐Radiation and Either Cold or Exercise
4.7 Cross‐Acclimation between Exercise and Hypoxia
4.8 Cellular Cross‐Acclimations
5 Cross‐Acclimation: Assessment by Acute Simultaneous Exposure to Two Stressors
6 Acclimation to Two Stressors
7 Adaptations: Role in Pathophysiology
Figure 1. Figure 1.

Levels of acquired acclimatization and their characteristics.

Figure 2. Figure 2.

Time course of changes in seven physiological responses occurring in rates during and following a 20‐day exposure to air at 5°C.

Figure 3. Figure 3.

Hematocrit ratios in rats exposed for 28 days to five levels of hypoxia.

Drawn from data of Sundstroem and Michaels 58
Figure 4. Figure 4.

Effect of daily exposures to 12,000 m simulated altitude on the mean (± SE) no‐righting time of 16 rats living in air at 25°C (closed circles) and 16 others living in air at 5°C (open circles). No‐righting time is designated as the time from arrival at 12,000 m simulated altitude to loss of righting reflex.

Redrawn from Fregly 26
Figure 5. Figure 5.

A: Effect of chronic exposure to cold (open circles), and X‐radiation (closed triangles) on survival of rats exposed to an ambient pressure of 300 mm Hg (7,080 m simulated altitude). Survival of control rats (closed circles) is also shown. B: Effect of a chronic exercise regimen on survival of rats exposed to an ambient pressure to 300 mm Hg. Work I group (open circles) ran on a treadmill, tilted up at 26°, at 0.3 mile/h for 14 days. Work II group (open triangles) ran under the same conditions for 21 days. Respective control groups were control I (closed circles) and control II (closed triangles).

Drawn from data of Sundstroem and Michaels 58
Figure 6. Figure 6.

Interaction of seven different adaptagents or stressors in rats. After acclimation to a given stressor was complete, responses to acute exposures of the same (homologous) and to other (cross‐acclimation) adaptagents or stressors were tested. A plus sign refers to positive cross‐acclimation, while a minu sign refers to negative cross‐acclimation. Question marks refer to results of doubtful signficance.

Data from sources described in text
Figure 7. Figure 7.

A: Effect of dietary administration of two different isomers of the insecticide DDD for 19 wk on mean (± SE) accumulative fecal excretion of 131I after intraperitoneal administration of thyroxine‐131I to rats. Groups and treatments are designated in the figure. B: Effect of dietary administration of DDD on simultaneous mean (± SE) accumulative excretion of 131I in urine.

Redrawn from Fregly et al. 34


Figure 1.

Levels of acquired acclimatization and their characteristics.



Figure 2.

Time course of changes in seven physiological responses occurring in rates during and following a 20‐day exposure to air at 5°C.



Figure 3.

Hematocrit ratios in rats exposed for 28 days to five levels of hypoxia.

Drawn from data of Sundstroem and Michaels 58


Figure 4.

Effect of daily exposures to 12,000 m simulated altitude on the mean (± SE) no‐righting time of 16 rats living in air at 25°C (closed circles) and 16 others living in air at 5°C (open circles). No‐righting time is designated as the time from arrival at 12,000 m simulated altitude to loss of righting reflex.

Redrawn from Fregly 26


Figure 5.

A: Effect of chronic exposure to cold (open circles), and X‐radiation (closed triangles) on survival of rats exposed to an ambient pressure of 300 mm Hg (7,080 m simulated altitude). Survival of control rats (closed circles) is also shown. B: Effect of a chronic exercise regimen on survival of rats exposed to an ambient pressure to 300 mm Hg. Work I group (open circles) ran on a treadmill, tilted up at 26°, at 0.3 mile/h for 14 days. Work II group (open triangles) ran under the same conditions for 21 days. Respective control groups were control I (closed circles) and control II (closed triangles).

Drawn from data of Sundstroem and Michaels 58


Figure 6.

Interaction of seven different adaptagents or stressors in rats. After acclimation to a given stressor was complete, responses to acute exposures of the same (homologous) and to other (cross‐acclimation) adaptagents or stressors were tested. A plus sign refers to positive cross‐acclimation, while a minu sign refers to negative cross‐acclimation. Question marks refer to results of doubtful signficance.

Data from sources described in text


Figure 7.

A: Effect of dietary administration of two different isomers of the insecticide DDD for 19 wk on mean (± SE) accumulative fecal excretion of 131I after intraperitoneal administration of thyroxine‐131I to rats. Groups and treatments are designated in the figure. B: Effect of dietary administration of DDD on simultaneous mean (± SE) accumulative excretion of 131I in urine.

Redrawn from Fregly et al. 34
References
 1. Adolph, E. F. General and specific characteristics of physiological adaptations. Am. J. Physiol. 184: 18–28, 1956.
 2. Adolph, E. F. Early concepts of physiological regulations. Physiol. Rev. 41: 737–770, 1961.
 3. Adolph, E. F. General and specific characteristics of physiological adaptation. In: Man's Dependence On The Earthly Atmosphere, edited by K. E. Schaefer. New York: Macmillan, 1961, p. 33–41.
 4. Adolph, E. F. Perspectives of adaptation: some general properties. In: Handbook of Physiology. Adaptation To The Environment, edited by D. B. Dill, E. F. Adolph, and C. G. Wilber. Washington, DC: American Physiological Society, 1964, p. 27–35.
 5. Adolph, E. F. Physiological adaptations: hypertrophies and superfunctions. Am. Sci. 60: 608–617, 1972.
 6. Altland, P. D. Tolerance of altitude‐acclimatized rats to exercise in the cold. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 149: 656–660, 1975.
 7. Barlow, J. C., and E. A. Sellers. Effect of exposure to cold on response of the rat to whole body radiation. Am. J. Physiol. 172: 147–151, 1953.
 8. Bartlett, R. G., Jr., and N. E. Phillips. Restraint adaptation and altitude tolerance in the rat. J. Appl. Physiol. 15: 921–924, 1960.
 9. Bartlett, R. G., Jr., R. H. Helmendach, and V. C. Bohr. Effect of emotional stress, anesthesia, and death on body temperature of mice exposed to cold. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 83: 4–5, 1953.
 10. Bernard, C. An Introduction To The Study of Experimental Medicine. New York: Dover, 1957, p. 1–226.
 11. Bert, P. La Pression Barometrique. Paris: 1878, p. 1–1178.
 12. Blatteis, C. M., and T. M. Gilbert. Hypoxia and shivering thermogenesis in cold‐acclimatized miniature pigs. J. Appl. Physiol. 36: 453–456, 1974.
 13. Blatteis, C. M., and L. O. Lutherer. Cold‐induced thermogenesis in dogs: its reduction by moderate hypoxia. J. Appl. Physiol. 35: 608–612, 1973.
 14. Blatteis, C. M., and L. O. Lutherer. Reduction by moderate hypoxia of the calorigenic action of catecholamines in dogs. J. Appl. Physiol 36: 337–339, 1974.
 15. Blatteis, C. M., and L. O. Lutherer. Effect of altitude exposure on thermoregulatory response of man to cold. J. Appl. Physiol. 41: 848–858, 1976.
 16. Brandon, R. N. Adaptation and Environment. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1990, p. 3–194.
 17. Brooks, C. McC. The nature of adaptive reactions and their initiation. In: Physiology and Pathology of Adaptation Mechanisms, edited by E. Bajusz. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1969. pp. 439–451.
 18. Cannon, W. B. The Wisdon of the Body. New York: Norton, 1932, p. 1–333.
 19. Carlson, L. D., W. J. Scheyer, and B. H. Jackson. The combined effects of ionizing radiation and low temperature on the metabolism, longevity and soft tissue of the white rat. I. Metabolism and longevity. Radiat. Res. 7: 190–197, 1957.
 20. Cronkite, E. P., C. R. Sipw, D. C. Eltzholtz, W. H. Chapman, and F. W. Chambers, Jr. Increased tolerance of mice to lethal x‐radiation as a result of previous sublethal exposure. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 73: 184–186, 1950.
 21. Dieter, M. P., P. D. Altland, and B. Highman. Tolerance of unacclimated and cold‐acclimated rats to exercise in the cold: serum, red and white muscle enzymes, and histological changes. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 48: 723–731, 1970.
 22. Farrington, B. Anaximander. In: Science and Politics in the Ancient World. London: Allen and Unwin, 1939.
 23. Fleischner, J. R., and F. Sargent. II. Effects of heat and cold on the albino rat: crossed resistance or crossed sensitization? J. Appl. Physiol. 14: 789–797, 1959.
 24. Folk, G. E., Jr. Textbook of Environmental Physiology (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger, 1974, p. 9–15.
 25. Fregly, M. J. Minimal exposure needed to acclimatize rats to cold. Am. J. Physiol. 173: 393–402, 1953.
 26. Fregly, M. J. Cross‐acclimatization between cold and altitude in rats. Am. J. Physiol. 176: 267–274, 1954.
 27. Fregly, M. J. Effects of extremes of temperature on hypertensive rats. Am. J. Physiol. 176: 275–281, 1954.
 28. Fregly, M. J. Water and electrolyte exchange in rats exposed to cold. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 46: 873–881, 1968.
 29. Fregly, M. J. Comments on cross‐adaptation. Environ. Res. 2: 435–441, 1969.
 30. Fregly, M. J. Cross adaptations and their significance. Rev. Can. Biol. 30: 223–227, 1971.
 31. Fregly, M. J., and J. J. Burton. Effect of repeated exposures to cold on food and fluid intakes of rats. In: Thermoregulation: The Pathophysiological Basis of Clinical Disorders, edited by P. Lomax, and E. Schönbaum, Basel: Karger, 1992, p. 1–5.
 32. Fregly, M. J., L. O. Lutherer, and P. E. Tyler. Effect of chronic exposure to cold, hypoxia, and both combined on water exchange in rats. Aerospace Med. 45: 1223–1231, 1974.
 33. Fregly, M. J., E. L. Nelson, Jr., and P. E. Tyler. Water exchange in rats exposed to cold, hypoxia and both combined. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 47: 600–607, 1976.
 34. Fregly, M. J., I. W. Waters, and J. A. Straw. Effect of isomers of DDD on thyroid and adrenal function in rats. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 46: 59–66, 1968.
 35. Ghys, R. Radioprotection by acclimatization to cold. Nature 198: 603, 1963.
 36. Hale, H. B., and R. B. Mefford, Jr. Factorial study of environmentally‐induced metabolic changes in rats. Am. J. Physiol. 194: 469–475, 1958.
 37. Hecht, H. H., H. Kuida, R. L. Lange, J. L. Thorne, and A. M. Brown. Brisket disease. II Clinical features and hemodynamic observations in altitude‐dependent right heart failure of cattle. Am. J. Med. 32: 171–183, 1962.
 38. Heilbrunn, L. V. An Outline of General Physiology (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders, 1952, p. 546.
 39. Héroux, O., and J. S. Hart. Restraint hypothermia and its inhibition by cold acclimation. Am. J. Physiol. 177: 219–221, 1954.
 40. Hiestand, W. A., F. W. Stamler, and R. L. Jasper. Increased anoxic resistance resulting from short period heat adaptation. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 88: 94–95, 1955.
 41. Kuroshima, A., Y. Habara, A. Uehara, K. Murazimi, T. Yahata, and T. Ohno. Cross adaptation between stress and cold in rats. Pflugers Arch. 402: 402–408, 1984.
 42. Levan, H., R. E. Haas, S. Stefani, and E. Reyes. Radiosensitivity of mice exposed to various temperatures and low‐dose rate radiation. Am. J. Physiol. 219: 1033–1035, 1970
 43. Lewin, R. Adaptation can be a problem for evolutionists. Science 216: 1212–1213, 1982.
 44. Mefford, R. B., Jr., and H. B. Hale. Effects of altitude, cold and heat on metabolic interrelationships in rats. Am. J. Physiol. 193: 443–446, 1958.
 45. Mefford, R. B. Jr., H. B. Hale, and H. H. Martens. Nitrogen and electrolyte excretion of rats chronically exposed to adverse environments. Am. J. Physiol. 192: 209–218, 1958.
 46. Papanek, P. E., C. E. Wood, and M. J. Fregly. Role of the sympathetic nervous system in cold‐induced hypertension in rats. J. Appl. Physiol. 71: 300–306, 1991.
 47. Raper, J. R. Effects of total surface beta irradiation. Radiology 49: 314–324, 1947.
 48. Richards, D. W. Homeostasis versus hyperexis: or Saint George and the dragon. Sci. Monthly 77: 289–294, 1953.
 49. Richards, D. W. Homeostasis: its dislocations and perturbations. Perspect. Biol. Med. 3: 238–251, 1960.
 50. Robillard, E., and M. Gagnon. Resistance a l'anoxie aigue chez le rat exposé à des temperatures ambiantes relativement basses. Rev. Can. Biol. 12: 411–422, 1953.
 51. Schwabe, C. Cooking and trimming by scientific giants. FASEB J. 6: 2615–2616, 1992.
 52. Selye, H. The significance of adrenal glands for adaptation. Arch. Int. Pharmacodyn. Ther. 55: 431–535, 1937.
 53. Shechtman, O., P. E. Papanek, and M. J. Fregly. Reversibility of cold‐induced hypertension after removal of rats from cold. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 68: 830–835, 1990.
 54. Sisson, G. M., and M. J. Fregly. A simplified apparatus for chronic exposure of rats to low oxygen tension. J. Appl. Physiol. 8: 128–131, 1955.
 55. Smith, W. W., B. J. Highman, J. R. Mitchell, and H. C. Blount, Jr. Effect of environmental temperature on the response of mice to whole‐body Roentgen radiation. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 71: 498–501, 1949.
 56. Stein, H. J., J. W. Eliot, and R. A. Bader. Physiological reactions to cold and their effects on retention of acclimatization to heat. J. Appl. Physiol. 1: 575–585, 1949.
 57. Straw, J. A., I. W. Waters, and M. J. Fregly. Effect of o,p'‐DDD on hepatic metabolism of pentobarbital in the rat. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol Med. 118: 391–394, 1965.
 58. Sundstroem, E. W., and G. Michaels. The adrenal cortex in adaptation to altitude, climate and cancer. Memoirs Univ. Calif. 12: 1–409, 1942.
 59. Szelenyi, Z., and Sz. Donhoffer. The thermogenetic function of brown adipose tissue and the response of body temperature to hypoxia and hypercapnia in the cold‐ and the warm‐adapted rat. Acta Physiol. Acad. Sci. Hung. 33: 31–39, 1968.
 60. Thompson, G. E., and J.A.F. Stevenson. The temperature response of acclimatized and unacclimatized rats to exercise in the cold. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 44: 130–146, 1966.
 61. Ungar, G. Inflammation and its control, a biochemical approach. Lancet 2: 742–746, 1952.
 62. Will, D. H., A. F. Alexander, J. T. Reeves, and R. F. Grover. High altitude‐induced pulmonary hypertension in normal cattle. Circ. Res. 10: 172–177, 1962.

Contact Editor

Submit a note to the editor about this article by filling in the form below.

* Required Field

How to Cite

Melvin J. Fregly. Adaptations: Some General Characteristics. Compr Physiol 2011, Supplement 14: Handbook of Physiology, Environmental Physiology: 3-15. First published in print 1996. doi: 10.1002/cphy.cp040101