Hypothalamic Temperature in the Cat during Feeding and Sleep.

Anterior hypothalamic temperature is reported for the unanesthetized cat resting at an air temperature of 22 degrees to 25 degrees C during the ingestion of cold or warm liquids, and during sleep. Drinking cold (5 degrees C) milk resulted in an immediate depression of hypothalamic temperature and a period of peripheral vasodilation in the ear and forepaw foot and toe pads, followed by a drop in rectal temperature. Drinking warm (body temperature) milk did not bring about these changes. Hypothalamic temperature during sleep is lower by approximately 0.5 degrees C and is characterized by widely varying, slow-frequency oscillations, compared to the higher, more precisely controlled temperature seen when the animal is awake.