[The maximal duration of respiratory arrest during hypothermia in white rats which it is possible to reverse by an increase in brain temperature].

Animals were cooled to 9-10 C, and the maximal reversible respiration arrest lasted 3.5 min. Irreversibility of the respiration arrest lasting longer than 3.5 min. seems to be due to the fact that increasing the brain temperature induces a discrepancy between the oxygen demand of the tissues and its contents which would lead to a brain hypoxia and its death.