AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, Cambridge CB2 4AT, England
Abstract:
1. 1.|The capacity for behavioural thermoregulation has been assessed in lean and genetically obese (ob/ob) mice, using operant conditioning.
2. 2.|After 30 min at an initial air temperature (Ta) of 0°C, total thermal reinforcements and Ta were greater in ob/ob than lean mice; deep body temperature increased in both genotypes. Without a heater, body temperature in the ob/ob fell markedly in the cold.
3. 3.|Behavioural thermoregulation also depended on food intake and test temperature. i]4.|The capacity for behavioural thermoregulation is thus unimpaired in the ob/ob mouse, unlike that for autonomic thermoregulation, suggesting separate sets of central controls for the two thermoregulatory systems.
Author Keywords: Behaviour; energy intake; obesity; temperature; thermoregulation