Effects of some drugs influencing brain monoamines on body temperature of albino rat

Abstract

The effect of drugs like monoamine depletors, neuronolytic agents, synthesis inhibitors, precursors, receptor agonists and antagonists, metabolism and re-uptake inhibitors which are known to affect brain monoamine activity was studied on the rectal temperature of albino rats at room temerature (25° ± 1° C). Changes of brain noradrenaline or serotonin had little or no effect on normal body temperature, but inhibition and enhancement of dopamine activity produced hyperthermia and hypothermia, respectively. The results suggest that while temperature regulation in response to changes in external or internal environment involves brain noradrenaline and serotonin, normal body temperature at constant temperature is not altered by induced changes in brain noradrenaline or serotonin. However in similar circumstances dopamine can affect body temperature.