Zylan K D
Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Behav Neurosci. 1993 Aug;107(4):703-5. doi: 10.1037//0735-7044.107.4.703.
The behavioral thermoregulatory capability of lean (Fa/?) and obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats was investigated in an operant conditioning apparatus. Obese rats exposed to -9 degrees C leverpressed for heat significantly more than lean rats, and consequently received more exogenous heat. Despite this increased heat intake, obese and lean animals demonstrated equivalent increases in core temperature. These results suggest that the obese (fa/fa) Zucker rat is not acting on a lowered thermoregulatory set point and is capable of behaviorally thermoregulating to compensate for poor heat absorption and/or a defect in metabolic heat production.
