Temperature gradients between the jugular vein blood and rectum in anaesthetized, intubated pigs

In connection with investigations of eventual temperature differences betwe en pre-ovulatory follicles and ovarian stroma, the temperatures in the jugu lar vein blood and rectum were measured in 14 anaesthetized, intubated, cyc ling pigs. The rectal and jugular vein temperatures were 38.16 +/- 0.11 deg rees C and 37.90 +/- 0.12 degrees C (mean +/- SEM), respectively, after ins ertion of the probes. Forty minutes later the rectal and jugular vein tempe ratures were 38.20 +/- 0.15 degrees C and 37.82 +/- 0.15 degrees C. The res ults are taken to indicate a thermo-autoregulatory mechanism, which might s tabilize the body temperature using the ears as a cooling surface. A coolin g airflow should be provided when pigs are kept under crowded and stressful conditions.