Document Detail


Relationship between preferred ambient temperature and autonomic thermoregulatory function in rat.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  3591983     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
This study was designed to elucidate the relationships between behavioral and autonomic thermoregulation in three common strains of the laboratory rat. In one experiment eight adult rats of the Sprague-Dawley (SD), Long-Evans (LE), and Fischer (FCH) strains were repeatedly placed in a longitudinal temperature gradient while their preferred ambient temperature (Ta) was recorded. The mean preferred Ta's (+/- SE) for the SD, LE, and FCH strains were 24.9 +/- 0.4, 19.8 +/- 0.3, and 23.4 +/- 0.3 degrees C, respectively. In another experiment, individual adult rats of the same strains were placed in an environmental chamber thermostabilized at 2 degrees C intervals from 14 to 36 degrees C for 90 min while metabolic rate (MR), evaporative water loss (EWL), thermal conductance (C), and colonic temperature (Tcol) were determined. All three strains exhibited a minimal MR at a Ta of 30 degrees C. As Ta decreased below 30 degrees C, MR increased in a nonlinear fashion. EWL and C were minimal at cool Ta's and increased gradually with an elevation in Ta. All three strains maintained a normal Tcol between Ta's of 14 to 30 degrees C. The FCH strain exhibited the best control of Tcol at Ta's above 30 degrees C. Generally, one would predict that the preferred Ta would be associated with minimal thermoregulatory effort. However, the rat is unusual from other rodents (e.g., mouse, hamster, and guinea pig) in that the preferred Ta is well below the lower critical Ta for elevating MR.
Authors:
C J Gordon
Related Documents :
6033933 - A peculiar configuration of agranular reticulum (canaliculate lamellar body) in the rat...
1252123 - Energy metabolism following thermal burns.
3146353 - Glycogen metabolism in late gestation in fetuses of maternal diabetic rats.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The American journal of physiology     Volume:  252     ISSN:  0002-9513     ISO Abbreviation:  Am. J. Physiol.     Publication Date:  1987 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1987-07-15     Completed Date:  1987-07-15     Revised Date:  2003-11-14    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0370511     Medline TA:  Am J Physiol     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  R1130-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Autonomic Nervous System / physiology*
Behavior, Animal / physiology
Body Temperature Regulation*
Male
Rats
Rats, Inbred F344
Rats, Inbred Strains
Species Specificity
Temperature*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Lymphatic and vascular responses to fluid infusion in castrated and noncastrated sheep.
Next Document:  Acute suppression of plasma vasopressin and thirst after drinking in hypernatremic humans.