HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES INDUCED BY THER MAL EXPOSURE IN THE RAT-LIVER

To clarify the effects of a thermal environment on rats, histopatholog ical changes, and temperatures in the rectum and eyes of Fischer strai n rats exposed to a thermal environment of 32-degrees-C for 2 days or 7 days were investigated. Thermal exposure to 32-degrees-C induced ele vations in rectal and ocular temperatures. The increased temperature l evels persisted during the thermal exposure. Vacuolar degeneration sur rounding the hepatic vein was observed in rat livers exposed to 32-deg rees-C for 7 days. No abnormalities were observed in other organs. The se results indicate that thermal exposure to 32-degrees-C induces vacu olar degeneration in hepatocytes due to the elevation of body temperat ure.