Effects of whole-body hyperthermia on the canine central nervous system

It has been reported that central nervous system (CNS) tissue may be more heat labile than other tissues of the body. However, no definite information has been available on how much heat CNS tissue can tolerate without sustaining damage during whole-body hyperthermia, especially in a chronic stage. In this study, whole-body hyperthermia was induced in dogs by extracorporeal heating of blood, to determine the effects 7 days after hyperthermia on the canine brain and spinal cord. The temperatures of both the brain and the spinal cord were raised to 42.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C and maintained at that level for 60 min. Seven days later, all of the dogs were sacrificed by transcardial perfusion using 10% formaldehyde phosphate buffer for microscopic examination. The thermal dose resulted in neither microscopic damage to the CNS nor neurological symptoms, as determined by comparison of microscopic and neurological findings with those of dogs whose brain and spinal cord temperatures were maintained at 37.0 degrees C for 60 min. The findings suggest that, for medical purposes, whole-body hyperthermia appears promising for application at a thermal dose of up to 42.0 degrees C for 60 min.