Hypothermic effect of GABA in conscious stressed rats: its modification by cholinergic agonists and antagonists

Higher environmental temperature-induced increase of body temperature: involvement of central opioidergic-GABAergic interaction

Exposure (2 h) of male albino rats to higher environmental temperature (HET, 40 degrees C) significantly increased the body temperature (BT). Administration of bicuculline (1 mg/kg, i.p.), physostigmine (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.), or their combination significantly raised the BT of normal rats (kept at 28 degrees C) or of HET-exposed rats. Atropine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) abolished the hyperthermic effect of bicuculline in normal and HET-exposed rats. The BT of normal and HET-exposed rat was increased with morphine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and was reduced with naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Bicuculline or physostigmine-induced rise in BT of HET-exposed rats was potentiated following cotreatment of physostigmine with morphine. Atropine-induced hypothermia was abolished due to the cotreatment of atropine with morphine with physostigmine but was attenuated with atropine. In normal rats (kept at 28 degrees C), only atropine attenuated (morphine + bicuculline)-induced hyperthermia. L-Dopa + carbidopa or haloperidol did not significantly affect the BT of rats under similar conditions. These results suggest that short-term (2 h) exposure to HET activates the opioidergic neuron, which activates cholinergic activity through the inhibition of GABAergic system and, thus, enhances the BT.

Role of GABAA and GABAB receptors and peripheral cholinergic mechanisms in the antinociceptive action of taurine

1. Gabaergic and cholinergic mediation in the antinociceptive effect of taurine has been investigated in mice (acetic acid test) and rats (tail-flick test). 2. Scopolamine sulfate and methylnitrate exhibit intrinsic antinociceptive activity and increase the effect of taurine in mice. 3. Baclofen also increases the antinociceptive effect of taurine in mice. 4. Anticholinergic agents and bicuculline but not CGP 35348 antagonize the effect of taurine in rats. 5. These results suggest that the antinociceptive effect of taurine may be partly mediated by spinal GABAA receptors and peripheral cholinergic mechanisms.

Higher environmental temperature-induced increase in body temperature: involvement of serotonin in GABA mediated interaction of opioidergic system

Exposure (2 h) of adult male albino rats to higher environmental temperature (HET, 40 degrees C) significantly increased body temperature (BT). Administration of (a) 5-HTP (5 mg/kg, i.p.) or morphine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) or physostigmine (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.) alone significantly increased and (b) methysergide (1 mg/kg, i.p.) or naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.) or atropine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced the BT of both normal and HET exposed rats. Further, it was observed that morphine prevented the methysergide-induced hypothermia and 5-HTP potentiated the morphine-induced hyperthermia in both normal and HET exposed conditions. Biochemical study also indicates that serotonin metabolism was increased but GABA utilization was reduced following exposure to HET.5-HTP or bicuculline-induced hyperthermia in control and HET exposed rat was potentiated with the coadministration of bicuculline and 5-HTP. The cotreatment of bicuculline with methysergide prevented the methysergide-induced attenuation of BT of heat exposed rat, rather BT was significantly enhanced indicating that inhibition of GABA system under heat exposed condition may activate the serotonergic activity. Further (a) enhancement of (i) morphine-induced hyperthermia with physostigmine (ii) physostigmine- or morphine+physostigmine-induced increase of BT with 5-HTP and (b) reduction of (i) morphine- or morphine + 5-HTP-induced hyperthermia with atropine and (ii) atropine-induced hypothermia with 5-HTP in both normal and HET exposed conditions suggest that HET exposure activates the cholinergic system through the activation of opioidergic and serotonergic system and hence increased the BT. Thus, it may be concluded that there is an involvement of serotonergic regulation in the opioidergic-cholinergic interaction via GABA system in HET-induced increase in BT.

Comparison of acid/base status in conscious and anaesthetized rats during acute hypothermia

Acute hypothermia was surface-induced in unrestrained conscious rats at two different levels, moderate (30 degrees C TB) and severe (20 degrees C TB). Data reflecting the acid/base status were determined. The values obtained for moderate hypothermia were compared with the acid/base pattern observed during hypothermia induced by two different anaesthetics, sodium pentobarbital and urethane, at room temperature. Conscious, hypothermic animals developed an apparent respiratory alkalosis, with an increase in pHa (from 7.476 to 7.546 in moderate hypothermia and from 7.484 to 7.563 in severe hypothermia) correlated with a decrease in arterial bicarbonate levels (from 22.9 to 16.8 mmol l-1 and from 20.7 to 14.9 mmol l-1 respectively). Lactate increased slightly in conscious, severely hypothermic rats (1.02 mmol l-1). This acid/base pattern was clearly different from that seen in sodium pentobarbital (mild respiratory acidosis) and urethane-induced hypothermia (metabolic acidosis). These results suggest that conscious rats follow a pattern closer to that underlying the relative alkalinity shown by many poikilotherms than to that underlying the constant pH shown in hibernating mammals. This latter pattern, nevertheless, approaches that observed during moderate pentobarbital hypothermia and the acid/base pattern during shallow hypothermia in birds. Anaesthesia may interfere with the development of the processes that lead to the acid/base pattern observed in conscious animals.

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.