Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S, 80 ppm) gas in an atmosphere of 17.5% oxygen reportedly induces suspended animation in mice; a state analogous to hibernation that entails hypothermia and hypometabolism. However, exogenous H(2)S in combination with 17.5% oxygen is able to induce hypoxia, which in itself is a trigger of hypometabolism/hypothermia. Using non-invasive thermographic imaging, we demonstrated that mice exposed to hypoxia (5% oxygen) reduce their body temperature to ambient temperature. In contrast, animals exposed to 80 ppm H(2)S under normoxic conditions did not exhibit a reduction in body temperature compared to normoxic controls. In conclusion, mice induce hypothermia in response to hypoxia but not H(2)S gas, which contradicts the reported findings and putative contentions.