Correct Response: D. When fighting an infection, the body's temperature increases, creating an environment that is hostile to pathogens. This increase in temperature is called a fever. The body begins to produce white blood cells―leukocytes―to detect and destroy the microorganisms that are causing the infection. Increased temperatures, such as a fever, increase rather than reduce the permeability of the plasma membrane (A). A fever decreases the concentration of oxygen in the blood
because it reduces the oxygen's ability to bind to hemoglobin. A fever increases blood pressure and heart rate rather than lowering them (C).