Skin and core temperatures as determinants of heat production and heat loss in the goat.

In 82 experiments on 10 goats body core temperature (Tcore) was altered between 35 degrees and 42 degrees C by external heat exchangers acting on blood temperature while skin temperature (Tskin) was maintained constant, by a circulating shower bath, at different levels between 32 degrees and 44 degrees C. At all skin temperatures at least fourfold increases of heat production (M) and respiratory evaporative heat loss (REHL) occurred when Tcore was lowered or raised, respectively. The lower Tskin was, the higher were the thresholds of Tcore, at which M or REHL exceeded resting levels. The lower Tskin was, the higher were the slopes, at which M or REHL changed per unit of Tcore. At a given Tskin, the slopes decreased with increasing M or REHL, and were dependent on the range of Tcore. The higher the range of Tcore, the steeper changed M and REHL with changing Tcore, if all other variables were held constant. The results support the concept that an exponential relationship between Tcore and the rate of core temperature signals is the primary cause of the effects exerted by Tskin on the slopes, at which M or REHL change per unit of Tcore.