Super Cooling - Temperature Relations in Animals
Super cooling is a phenomenon where body water is allowed to cool far below 0°C without formation of ice. Glycerol is effective in lowering both the freezing point and also the super cooling point. In addition, glycerol improves the tolerance to freezing in animals that tolerate ice formation. In some animals antifreeze compounds are found. For example in the Antarctic fish Trematomous borchgrevinki the blood contains a glycoprotein that acts as an antifreeze substance.