Mammalian-like thermosensitivity in the lower brainstem of the Pekin duck

In Pekin ducks the brainstem between the preoptic region and the medulla oblongata was probed with chronically implanted bilateral thermodes to evaluate its thermosensory function in temperature regulation. Cooling of the lower mesencephalic and rostral rhombencephalic region in conscious animals elicited cutaneous vasoconstriction and increased metabolic heat production by shivering. This finding contrasts to the observation of a paradoxical inhibition of cold defence activities by cooling the preoptic/anterior hypothalamic region in the same species.