EFFECTS OF DECEREBRATION AND DECORTICATION ON SHIVERING IN THE CAT
Abstract
The effects of decerebration and decortication on the metabolic intensity of shivering in cats were determined. There was neither shivering nor an appreciable rise in the oxygen consumption rate of chronic decerebrate cats during rapid cooling. The intermittent somatomotor activity that was induced by rapid cooling was occasionally tremulous but it was also evoked by rapid warming and was absent during slow cooling and warming. This suggested that the motor activity of decerebrate cats during rapid cooling was more a generalized avoidance response to nociceptive stimulation than a temperature regulating mechanism. In decorticate cats shivering was depressed three days after surgery, the mean shivering to nonshivering ratio in oxygen consumption rate being 1.6 = 0.12 (S.D.), while the same ratio before operation was 2.6 = 0. 48 (S.D.). One month after decortication shivering had returned to its pre-operative intensity. This suggested that the net telencephallic influences on shivering could hardly be suppressive, as suggested by some earlier investigators.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0407018
Entities
People
- A. Hemingway
- D. G. Stuart
- W. J. Freekan