An improved method for recording tail skin temperature in the rat reveals changes during the estrous cycle and effects of ovarian steroids
Open accessAbstract
In the rat, tail skin vasomotion is a primary heat loss mechanism that can be monitored by changes in tail skin temperature (T(SKIN)). Previous studies showed that ovariectomy and estrogen replacement modify T(SKIN) in the rat. Based on these findings, the ovariectomized (OVX) rat has been used as a model to study the mechanisms and treatment of menopausal hot flushes. It is not known, however, if T(SKIN) changes across the estrous cycle in intact rats. Here, we describe an improved method for monitoring T(SKIN) in freely moving rats using a SubCue Mini datalogger mounted on the ventral surface of the tail. This method is noninvasive, cost-effective, and does not require restraints or tethering. We observed a distinct pattern of T(SKIN) across the estrous cycle characterized by low T(SKIN) on proestrous night. To determine whether this pattern was secondary to secretion of ovarian steroids, we monitored the thermoregulatory effects of 17β-estradiol (E(2)) and E(2) plus progesterone, administered via SILASTIC capsules to OVX rats. E(2) treatment of OVX rats significantly reduced T(SKIN) in the dark phase from 2 to 21 d after hormone treatment. The T(SKIN) of E(2)-treated OVX animals was not significantly different from OVX rats receiving E(2) plus progesterone. These data provide evidence that the reduction in T(SKIN) on proestrous night was secondary to elevated levels of ovarian estrogens. This study provides the first description of T(SKIN) changes with the estrous cycle and supports the role of estrogens in normal thermoregulation in the rat.
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The reduction in tail skin temperature by estrogen is part of the normal estrous cycle and physiologically relevant.
“These data provide evidence that the reduction in tail skin temperature by estrogen is part of the normal estrous cycle and physiologically relevant (Williams et al., 2010).”
From Modulation of body temperature and LH secretion by hypothalamic KNDy (kisspeptin, neurokinin B and dynorphin) neurons: A novel hypothesis on the mechanism of hot flushes (2013) · cites this paper as Williams et al., 2010
The reduction in tail skin temperature by estrogens cannot be explained by changes in body weight or core temperature.
“The reduction in tail skin temperature by estrogens cannot be explained by changes in body weight or core temperature (Williams et al., 2010).”
From Modulation of body temperature and LH secretion by hypothalamic KNDy (kisspeptin, neurokinin B and dynorphin) neurons: A novel hypothesis on the mechanism of hot flushes (2013) · cites this paper as Williams et al., 2010
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References 28 · Cited by 44
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Refinetti R 2006 Circadian physiology. 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press/Taylor and Francis Group [Google Scholar]
- Stearns V, Ullmer L, López JF, Smith Y, Isaacs C, Hayes DF 2002 Hot flushes. Lancet 360:1851–1861 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Authors
- Williams, H., Dacks, P. A., & Rance, N. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Arizona (US)
- Corresponding author
- Rance, Naomi E.
- Venue
- Endocrinology
- Publisher
- The Endocrine Society
- Published
- 2010-09-22
- Volume
- 151
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 5389-5394
- ISSN
- 0013-7227 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7170
- PMC
- PMC2954718
- OpenAlex
- W2040440163
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (1F31-AG030881, R01AG032315, F31AG030881)
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (U54HD028934, U54-HD-28934)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Keywords
- tail skin temperature, estrous cycle, ovarian steroids, estrogen, progesterone, ovariectomy, thermoregulation, vasomotion, menopausal hot flushes, freely moving rats, non-invasive temperature monitoring, proestrus
- MeSH terms
- Analysis of Variance, Animals, Estradiol, Female, Ovariectomy, Progesterone, Radioimmunoassay, Skin Temperature, Thermometers, Estrous Cycle, Rats
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