Thermoregulatory responses to preoptic cooling in unrestrained rabbits

Rabbits at ambient temperatures within the thermal neutral zone show two different metabolic responses to preoptic cooling. One response type is defined by a preoptic thermal sensitivity that shifts with ambient temperature and a 'set point' that remains constant. The other response type is defined by a set point that shifts with ambient temperature and a preoptic thermal sensitivity that remains constant. Both response types can be modeled by a single equation. Nonmetabolic thermoregulatory responses are not significantly different between the two response types.