Observations on temperature distribution in the cardiovascular system, thorax and abdomen of monkeys in relation to environment

Abstract

1. Thermo-electric observations of temperature distribution in the ;core' area of monkeys and baboons are reported.2. Temperature gradients were shown to exist in the inferior vena cava, temperatures rising by a mean value of 0.2 degrees C at the entry of the renal veins and again by a further 0.2 degrees C at the level of the hepatic veins.3. Temperatures in the right atrium were on average 0.1 degrees C lower than in the inferior vena cava due to the return of relatively cooler blood from the superior vena cava.4. Net heat exchanges in the thorax were small. Right atrial and aortic blood temperatures were not significantly different and it was concluded that heat losses in the thorax were balanced by heat production in lungs and heart.5. The mean liver temperature was 0.1 degrees C higher than that of the aortic blood irrespective of the environment.6. The mean temperature recorded from the lumen of the jejunum was 0.2 degrees C warmer than the aorta in the ;warm' environment and 0.4 degrees C hotter than the aorta in the ;cool' environment. In both environments intrajejunal temperature was higher than the liver but the differential was increased by exposure to a ;cool' environment.7. Evidence is adduced to suggest that the gastro-intestinal tract in the body at rest is a major heat producer contributing about double the amount of heat generated by the liver.8. It is suggested that blood flow redistribution in the splanchnic area on exposure of the body to cold is the main cause of the change in aortic-jejunal and jejunal-liver differentials. Metabolic factors have, however, not been excluded.