The catecholamine mechanisms of prostaglandin E1-induced hypothermia in rats

A theoretical model of biochemical control engineering based on the relation between oestrogens/progestagens and prostaglandins

A biological complex organism is involuntarily guided from all sides by measure and regulation systems. The human being is such a complex organism. Many cyclical processes are simultaneously at work, making it unclear how and why which process takes place at which moment. Noticeable examples are the 28-day menstrual cycle and the 40-week pregnancy. The time of activation in the middle of the menstrual is fairly clear. Hormonal changes also occur in this period. Why the hormonal changes occur, and what their relationship is with the activation of the processes is unclear. That is also the case during pregnancies. What is it that determines that a pregnancy should last an average of 40 weeks? What causes the changes in a complicated pregnancy? What are those changes? Prostaglandin concentrations have been found to have some relationship with these changes, but the activation of these changes and how to examine them is unknown. Using an example from practical experience, this article illustrates what Horrobin and Manku already reported in 1977, namely, the properties of prostaglandin E1 and 6-keto pgF1α: reversal effect with elevated concentration. The properties described is exceptionally suitable for the time of activation in a biochemically regulated measure and regulation system. These properties can help explain the occurrence of physiological cycles. The known electronic saw-tooth wave has a biochemical analogue with this. This paper describes the presumed relationship between hormones and the accompanying prostaglandins with the hormone effects based on what is known regarding their concentrations progress. This relationship reveals the practical consequences of the experimentally found sensitivity of biochemical effects with regard to the accompanying prostaglandins. This paper shows how the theoretical relationship between effects of oestrogens and progestagens result in a curve that comprise observable aspects of the Basal Body Temperature Curve. The modulating and activating prostaglandins also affect local changes in blood circulation. These changes are visible on specific sites on the abdominal skin via viscerocutaneous reflex pathways. Changes in blood circulation at specific areas of the skin can be representative of pain. Pain that also frequently arises during activation processes. These changes can be seen and measured with non-contactual infrared thermography on the cutaneous surface, and moments of activation and pain can be determined.

Prostaglandins and hypothalamic neurotransmitter receptors involved in hyperthermia: a critical evaluation

The role of a prostaglandin of the E series (PGE) in the hypothalamic mechanisms underlying a fever continues to be controversial. This paper reviews the historical literature and current findings on the central action of the PGEs on body temperature (Tb). New experiments were undertaken to examine the local effect of muscarinic, nicotinic, serotonergic, alpha-adrenergic, or beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists at hypothalamic sites where PGE1 caused a rise in Tb of the primate. Guide tubes for microinjection were implanted stereotaxically above sites in and around the anterior hypothalamic, preoptic area (AH/POA) of male Macaque monkeys. Following postoperative recovery, 30-100 ng of PGE1 was micro-injected unilaterally in a volume of 1.0-1.5 microliter at sites in the AH/POA to evoke a rise in Tb, and once identified, pretreated with a receptor antagonist. PGE1 hyperthermia was significantly reduced by microinjections of the muscarinic and nicotinic antagonists, atropine, or mecamylamine, at PGE1 reactive sites in the AH/POA. The serotonergic antagonist, methysergide, injected at PGE1 sensitive sites in the ventromedial hypothalamus also attenuated the rise in Tb. However, the 5-HT reuptake blocker, fluoxetine, and the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, propranolol, injected in the AH/POA failed to alter the PGE1 hyperthermia. In contrast, the alpha-adrenergic antagonist, phentolamine, potentiated the increase in Tb at all PGE1 reactive sites in the hypothalamus. An updated model is presented to explain how the concurrent actions of aminergic neurotransmitters acting on their respective receptors in the hypothalamus can interact with a PGE to elicit hyperthermia. Finally, an evaluation of the current literature including recent findings on macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-1) supports the conclusion that a PGE in the brain is neither an obligatory nor essential factor for the expression of a pyrogen fever.

Phentolamine and thermoregulation in rats

Phentolamine (PHEN), a nonselective alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, causes a dose and ambient temperature (Ta)-dependent fall in body temperature (Tb) when injected intraperitoneally. In this paper, we investigated whether this was caused by integrated behavioral and autonomic thermoregulatory responses and whether it was due to a central action of the drug. Male rats were trained to press a bar for warm air in the cold or cold air in the heat. Rats were tested in both conditions near their Tb peaks and troughs after injections of saline or PHEN (5 and 10 mg/kg, IP). Tb fell significantly within the first 30 min post-PHEN, and after that, in the cold, the rats worked to increase Ta. In the heat they did not change Ta. To determine what was responsible for the Tb fall, we measured heat loss and heat production after saline or PHEN (10 mg/kg; IP) at Ta 2, 20, and 30 degrees C. Decreases in Tb at 2 and 20 degrees C were caused by increased heat loss during the first 15-30 min post-PHEN. At 2 degrees C, heat production increased after the drop in Tb. We conclude that the main reason the rats do not start to work immediately to prevent their core temperature from falling is that skin temperature is high, due to peripheral vasodilation, and that skin temperature is the major stimulus for regulating preferred Ta. We believe these effects are mediated by peripheral mechanisms because intracerebro-ventricular injections of PHEN did not cause a fall in Tb.

Opioid and prostaglandin mechanisms involved in the effects of GABAergic drugs on body temperature

1. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection to restrained rats of GABA (250-1000 mg/kg) or the GABAA-receptor agonist muscimol (0.05-1 mg/kg) induced a dose-dependent decrease in body temperature (BT). 2. Intraperitoneal injection of low doses of the GABAB-receptor agonist (+/-)-baclofen (1-10 mg/kg) did not significantly affect BT. However, baclofen, at high doses (30 mg/kg), produced an increase in BT. 3. Pretreatment with either bicuculline (3 mg/kg) or naloxone (1 mg/kg) did not significantly modify the hypothermic response observed with GABA or muscimol, except for the high dose of GABA (1000 mg/kg) which was potentiated by bicuculline pretreatment. 4. Indomethacin pretreatment (5 mg/kg) significantly antagonized the hypothermia induced by GABA and muscimol. 5. Injection of baclofen alone (1 mg/kg) did not significantly affect BT, but in presence of the GABAA antagonist bicuculline, baclofen significantly decreased BT. 6. Baclofen-induced hyperthermia appear to be via prostaglandin and opioid mechanisms since both indomethacin and naloxone abolish this effect. 7. The hypothermia induced by GABA-agonists appears to be due to simultaneous activation of GABAA and GABAB receptors, while the hyperthermic effect of baclofen appears to be due to stimulation of GABAB receptors. 8. The present results suggest that involvement of prostaglandins in the effects of GABA, muscimol and baclofen, while endogenous opiates seem to be implicated only in baclofen induced hyperthermia. 9. It can be concluded that GABA may be involved in the control of BT through GABAA and GABAB receptors.

Changes in body temperature after administration of adrenergic and serotonergic agents and related drugs including antidepressants: 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 from 1980 to 1984 but data from many earlier papers are also tabulated.

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.