THERMOREGULATORY RESPONSES OF THE UNANESTHETIZED CAT TO PREOPTIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE,

Abstract

The thermoregulatory component of oxygen consumption in the unanesthetized cat has been found to be proportional to the product of skin temperature minus a higher reference and preoptic temperature minus 43. Thus at normal preoptic and skin temperature, the thermoregulatory component of oxygen consumption is stimulated by both skin and brain thermoreceptors. On exposure to cold, the cat can maintain increased oxygen consumption even though preoptic 'cool-sensitive units' decrease their stimulation as preoptic temperature rises, but the stimulation will not become minimal unless the preoptic region is heated to 43 C. In a hot environment, the sensitivity to preoptic cooling is greatly decreased. Our data suggest that vasoconstrictor drive also is a function of ambient temperature as well as preoptic temperature minus some higher reference. The preoptic temperature threshold for thermal polypnea is elevated as ambient temperature is lowered and thermal polypnea could not be evoked at a preoptic temperature of 42C in 29C air. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 31, 1968
Accession Number
AD0686083

Entities

People

  • Frank H. Jacobson
  • Russell D. Squires

Organizations

  • Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afferent Neurons
  • Anatomy
  • Biological Phenomena
  • Biological Sciences
  • Cells (Biology)
  • Ecological And Environmental Phenomena
  • Environment
  • Nerves
  • Nervous System
  • Sensitivity
  • Sensory Receptor Cells

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.