Tissue temperature in rabbits during application of heat-evolving pad.

Novel heat-evolving pads were prepared and applied to the back of rabbits to measure the temperatures of the skin surface, subcutaneous tissue (about 3 mm in depth), muscle (about 8 mm in depth) under the applied area and the rectum. The application of the pad caused an increased in the skin surface temperature, which was accompanied with an increase in the subcutaneous and muscular temperature. When the pads immediately after initiation of heat evolution were applied, the skin surface, subcutaneous tissue and muscle reached the respective plateau temperatures of about 43, ,42 and 41•Ž in 40 minutes. These temperatures were maintained for 1.5 to 2.0 hours. When the pads 30 minutes after initiation of heat evolution were applied, the skin surface, subcutaneous and muscular temperatures were increased to the respective plateau tem-