Heat loss regulation: role of appendages and torso in the deer mouse and the white rabbit
Thermal conductance was subdivided into the component conductances of the appendages and torso using a heat transfer analysis for the deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, and the white rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus. The authors analysis was based on laboratory measurements of skin temperature and respiratory gas exchange made between air temperatures of 8 and 34/sup 0/C for the deer mouse, and from published data for the white rabbit. Two series conductances to heat transfer for each appendage and torso were evaluated: (1) internal (h/sub in/), for blood flow and tissue conduction to the skin surface, and (2) external (h/sub ex/), for heat loss from the skin surface to the environment. These two series conductances were represented in a single, total conductance (h/sub tot/). The limit to h/sub tot/ was set by h/sub ex/ and was reached by the torso h/sub tot/ of both animals. The increase in torso h/sub tot/ observed with air temperature for the mouse suggests that a pilomotor change in fur depth occurred. A control of h/sub tot/ below the limit set by h/sub ex/ was achieved by the h/sub in/ of each appendage. Elevation of mouse thermal conductance (C) resulted from increases in feet, tail, and torso h/sub tot/. In contrast, the rabbit showed no change in torso h/sub tot/ between 5 and 30/sup 0/C and ear h/sub tot/ exclusively increased C over these air temperatures. They suggest that the hyperthermia reported for the rabbit at 35/sup 0/C resulted from C reaching the physical limit set by torso and near h/sub ex/. Thus the ear alone adjusted rabbit C, whereas the feet, tail, and the torso contributed to the adjustment of mouse C.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6652728
- Journal Information:
- J. Comp. Physiol. B; (United States), Vol. 155
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
MICE
THERMAL CONDUCTION
RABBITS
SKIN
HEAT LOSSES
AUDITORY ORGANS
BLOOD FLOW
BODY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEET
HAIR
HEAT TRANSFER
HYPERTHERMIA
ANIMALS
BODY AREAS
BODY TEMPERATURE
DATA
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY TRANSFER
INFORMATION
LEGS
LIMBS
LOSSES
MAMMALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
RODENTS
SENSE ORGANS
VERTEBRATES
550100* - Behavioral Biology