Temperature changes produced by the injection of catecholamines and 5‐hydroxytryptamine into the cerebral ventricles of the conscious mouse

Changes in temperature were determined following injection of noradrenaline, adrenaline, isoprenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) into the cerebral ventricles of the conscious mouse.2. Noradrenaline (1-20 mug) and dopamine (10-160 mug) caused falls in body temperature. Adrenaline (1-20 mug) caused a slight and transient rise in body temperature followed by a fall. Isoprenaline (5-20 mug) caused a rise in body temperature, hypothermia only occurring after very high doses (200 mug) of this catecholamine.3. alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocking agents, phentolamine (> 2 mug) and propranolol (> 5 mug) respectively, caused falls in body temperature when injected into the cerebral ventricles of the mouse.4. Specific drug antagonism studies were limited owing to the intrinsic effects of the alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocking agents. However, some evidence was obtained to indicate that noradrenaline mediated its effects through a central alpha-type adrenergic receptor.5. 5-HT (10-160 mug) caused a fall in body temperature. The action of this indoleamine and the catecholamines in regard to thermoregulatory function is discussed.