Blood coagulation studies in hedgehogs, in a hibernating and a non-hibernating state, and in dogs, hypothermic and normothermic.

Different coagulation factors were studied in hedgehogs during hibernation, and during the non-hibernating state. The dog was chosen as a non-hibernator. It was studied before cooling, at a body temperature of 30° G and 25° C during cooling, at 30° C during rewarming, just after rewarming and at different times after rewarming. The results are given in the tables. The hedgehogs showed a prolonged coagulation and recalcification time during hibernation compared with the values observed in non-hibernating animals. The prothrombin two-stage test and the prothrombin and factor VII determinations showed lower values in late August than in May—June. The anti-thrombin activity was increased in the hibernating hedgehogs compared with the non-hibernating animals. No circulating anticoagulant and no fibrinolysis were demonstrable in the hedgehogs. In the dogs the prothrombin and factor VII values decreased in the later phase of the rewarming and remained at a low level during the first few days after rewarming. The following days these factors increased to levels above the original ones. The antithrombin activity showed a marked rise after rewarming. In the rewarming phase there was in six dogs an increased fibrinolytic activity.