Mechanism of increased tolerance to hypothermia after composite Indian herbal preparation II administration

Objective: Investigation of the mechanism of increased tolerance to stress induced hypothermia after the administration of composite Indian herbal pre paration II (CIHP II), a combination of several plant ingredients and miner als. Design: The effect of oral CIHP II administration (1 mg/g of body weight), prior to cold (5 degreesC)hypoxia (428 mm Hg)-restraint (C-H-R) exposure in rats on cardiac and skeletal muscle oxidation was studied in vitro by esti mating conversion of glucose-U-C-14 and Palmitate-1-C-14 to (CO2)-C-14. In vitro adipose tissue lipolysis and incorporation of glucose-U-C-14 into ske letal muscle glycogen was also studied. Results: A single dose of CIHP II-enhanced resistance to hypothermia (recta l temperature [T-rec] 23 degreesC) during C-H-R exposure as evidenced by in creased glucose turnover rate in heart and skeletal muscle tissue. The bloo d glucose and skeletal muscle glycogen were conserved. Cardiac free fatty a cid oxidation was also increased. During recovery from hypothermia (T-rec 3 7 degreesC) blood glucose and muscle glycogen levels were conserved. Five d oses of CIHP II increased resistance to cold by increased adipose fat mobil ization and cardiac oxidation. Glucose oxidation was spared. During recover y from hypothermia, the glucose turnover and oxidation in skeletal muscle w as increased as was fat mobilization from adipose tissue and its oxidation by heart muscle. Conclusions: CIHP II intake prior to C-H-R exposure resulted in increased g lucose turnover rate and fat utilization. This perhaps helped increase the resistance to C-H-R-induced hypothermia and speeded recovery.