Effects of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, 2.4-dinitrophenol and pentolinium tartrate on behavioural thermoregulation in mice

Aging circadian rhythms and cannabinoids

Numerous aspects of mammalian physiology exhibit cyclic daily patterns known as circadian rhythms. However, studies in aged humans and animals indicate that these physiological rhythms are not consistent throughout the life span. The simultaneous development of disrupted circadian rhythms and age-related impairments suggests a shared mechanism, which may be amenable to therapeutic intervention. Recently, the endocannabinoid system has emerged as a complex signaling network, which regulates numerous aspects of circadian physiology relevant to the neurobiology of aging. Agonists of cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1) have consistently been shown to decrease neuronal activity, core body temperature, locomotion, and cognitive function. Paradoxically, several lines of evidence now suggest that very low doses of cannabinoids are beneficial in advanced age. One potential explanation for this phenomenon is that these drugs exhibit hormesis-a biphasic dose-response wherein low doses produce the opposite effects of higher doses. Therefore, it is important to determine the dose-, age-, and time-dependent effects of these substances on the regulation of circadian rhythms and other processes dysregulated in aging. This review highlights 3 fields-biological aging, circadian rhythms, and endocannabinoid signaling-to critically assess the therapeutic potential of endocannabinoid modulation in aged individuals. If the hormetic properties of exogenous cannabinoids are confirmed, we conclude that precise administration of these compounds may bidirectionally entrain central and peripheral circadian clocks and benefit multiple aspects of aging physiology.

Temperature regulation in laboratory mammals following acute toxic insult

The purpose of this paper is to provide a concise review of the effects of acute chemical toxicity on thermoregulation in mammals, with particular emphasis on the effects of xenobiotic compounds in laboratory rodents. It has been shown that acute administration of compounds such as nickel, cadmium, lead, and some pesticides causes a reduction in the body temperature of mice when tested at normal room temperatures. When provided with the option of selecting their preferred ambient temperature, the toxic-treated animals generally select cool temperatures which augment the hypothermic effect of the toxic compounds. It would appear that many of the xenobiotic compounds have central as well as peripheral effects on the control of body temperature. That is, the hypothermic animals select cool temperatures, a condition indicative of a centrally mediated decrease in the set-point. This decrease in set-point, or regulated hypothermia, may be beneficial to survival since the lethality of most xenobiotic compounds increases with rising body temperature. The observation that acute doses of various compounds leads to behaviorally and autonomically mediated changes in body temperature may have significant implications for the measurement of other biological effects of these chemical agents (e.g., CNS dysfunction, bradycardia, immunosuppression).

Changes in body temperature after administration of antipyretics, LSD, delta 9-THC and related agents: II

Antipyretics, in particular acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen, constitute the single most important class of drugs used therapeutically for an effect on body temperature. Hallucinogens exert prominent actions on the central nervous system, and it is not surprising that, like so many other centrally-acting agents, they too often affect temperature. This compilation primarily covers the considerable amount of data published from 1981 through 1985 on the interactions of these drugs and thermoregulation, but data from many earlier papers not included in a previous compilation are also tabulated. The effects of agents not classically considered as antipyretics on temperatures of febrile subjects are also covered. The information listed includes the species used, the route of administration and dose of drug, the environmental temperature at which experiments were performed, the number of tests, the direction and magnitude of change in body temperature and remarks on special conditions, such as age or brain lesions. Also indicated is the influence of other drugs, such as antagonists, on the response to the primary agent.

Sodium selenite-induced hypothermia in mice: indirect evidence for a neural effect

The effect of sodium selenite (SS) on the body temperature of adult male ICR mice was examined. SS (10-60 mumol/kg) administered subcutaneously resulted in a transient and dose-dependent hypothermia at ambient temperatures (Ta) of 20 and 30 degrees C. Reduced oxygen consumption accompanied the changes in body temperature. In addition, SS-treated mice exhibited transient cold-seeking behavior in the thermogradient. This SS-induced hypothermia was very similar to those induced by ethanol, tetrahydrocannabinol, triethyltin, sulfolane, and chlordimeform in that these all were transient, dependent on Ta, and not counteracted by behavioral thermoregulation. From these results, involvement of neural afferent or integral pathways is suggested. Further, acute mortality of SS-injected mice was enhanced with the elevation of Ta, as in the case of the chemicals mentioned above. Considering the diverse chemical and pharmacological properties of these chemicals, these results may suggest a possible interrelation between the hypothermic response and the modification of toxicity.

Changes in body temperature after administration of acetylcholine, histamine, morphine, prostaglandins and related agents: II

This survey continues a second series of compilations of data regarding changes in body temperature induced by drugs and related agents. The information listed includes the species used, the route of administration and dose of drug, the environmental temperature at which experiments were performed, the number of tests, the direction and magnitude of change in body temperature and remarks on the presence of special conditions, such as age or brain lesions. Also indicated is the influence of other drugs, such as antagonists, on the response to the primary agent. Most of the papers were published since 1979, but data from many earlier papers are also tabulated.