Circadian temperature rhythm in intact, sham operated, gonadectomized rats

Thirty-six CS rats (18 females and 18 males) have been studied: 22 gonadectomized (11 males and 11 females), 6 sham operated (3 males and 3 females) and 8 intact rats (4 males and 4 females). Three series of rectal temperature measurements have been performed: in the first one the animals were housed under strictly usual environment conditions (as far as the housing and lighting regimen was concerned); in the second one the animals were housed in metabolic cages in LD 12:12; in the third one the animals were housed in metabolic cages in DD. The mesor of temperature rhythm was always lower in ovariectomized than in intact rats, and always higher in castrated than in intact rats.