TEMPERATURE ACCLIMATION AND ITS INFLUENCE ON ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF NERVOUS SYSTEM IN THREE SPECIES OF COCKROACHES

Three species of cockroaches, Periplaneta americana, Leucophaea maderae and Blaberus craniifer, were acclimated at different temperatures. P. americana and L. maderae were acclimated at 10 or 12, 20, and 30°C whereas B. craniifer was acclimated at 12 and 30°C. Action potential extinction temperatures were determined as the intact nerve cord and isolated metathoracic ganglia were cooled. These values were compared to the chill-coma temperatures of the acclimated animals. It was found that all three species acclimate to temperature as evidenced by their different chill-coma temperatures. It has also been shown that both the intact nerve cord and isolated ganglion have electrical activity below the chill-coma temperature. This indicates that a failure of the nerve cord is not a direct cause of chill-coma in the three species. Possible causes for the onset of chill-coma are discussed. © 1968.