Thermoregulatory responses of laying hens under cyclic environmental temperature to intraventricular calcium and sodium

1. Hens received ICV injections of Ca2+ (1.98 g/100 ml) or Na+ (7.25 g/100 ml) at 28 degrees C and, following acclimation, at 37 or 20 degrees C, respectively. 2. At 28 degrees C (thermoneutrality), rectal temperature rose (P less than 0.05) following Na+ and fell (P less than 0.05) following Ca2+, similar to mammals and broiler chickens. 3. At 37 degrees C, Ca2+-induced hypothermia did not occur; nor did the Na+-associated hyperthermia at 20 degrees C. 4. Acclimation to a high or low temperature may produce an endogenous shift in CSF ion levels that make additional ion administration ineffective in affecting body temperature.