Temperature regulation of the testes of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus): evidence from colonic temperatures |
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Authors: | S A Rommel D A Pabst W A McLellan T M Williams W A Friedl |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, James Madison University, 22807 Harrisonburg, VA, USA;(2) Hawaii Laboratory, Naval Oceans Systems Center, P.O. Box 997, 96734 Kailua, HA, Code 511, USA;(3) Present address: Office of Naval Research, 800 North Quincy St., Code 1141SB, 22217 Arington, VA, USA |
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Abstract: | Dolphins possess a countercurrent heat exchanger that functions to cool their intra-abdominal testes. spermatic arteries in
the posterior abdomen are juxtaposed to veins returning cooled blood from the surfaces of the dorsal fin and flukes. A rectal
probe housing a linear array of five copper-constantan thermocouples was designed to measure colonic temperatures simultaneously
at positions anterior to, within, and posterior to the region of the colon flanked by the countercurrent heat exchanger. Colonic
temperatures adjacent to the countercurrent heat exchanger were maximally 1.3°C cooler than temperatures measured outside
this region. Temporary heating and cooling of the dorsal fin and flukes affected temperatures at the countercurrent heat exchanger,
but had little or no effect on temperatures posterior to its position. These measurements support the hypothesis that cooled
blood is introduced into the deep abdominal cavity and functions specifically to regulate the temperature of arterial blood
flow to the dolphin testes. |
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Keywords: | Thermoregulation Countercurrent heat exchange Testis Clinical assessment Dolphin Tursiops |
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