Short-term thermoregulatory adjustments involving opposite regional temperature changes

• 1.1. Experimental evidence is presented that short-term thermoregulatory adjustments occurring not far from thermoneutrality, involve temperature changes that are opposite in sign in different body regions. In man, exposure to hot ambient temperature (T_a), induced a decrease in esophageal and rectal temperatures. In rabbit, exposure to cold T_a induced an increase in hypothalamic temperature.
• 2.2.|Similar results could be obtained by simulation on a mathematical model of man's thermoregulatory system.
• 3.3.|The above results, as well as analogues results described in the literature, can be accounted for by a scheme of interpretation standing on current concepts of thermoregulation. If the gain of the thermoregulatory system is high, thermal stimulation of a region of the body will induce opposite temperature changes in other regions of the body.