AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 253, Issue 2 306-R313, Copyright © 1987 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Effect of antipyretic drugs on circadian rhythm in body temperature of rats

W. E. Scales and M. J. Kluger

In many species, including the laboratory rat, body temperature varies on a circadian (24 h) basis. There is considerable evidence that the circadian rise in body temperature is attributable to an elevation in thermoregulatory set point. We hypothesized that this rise in set point may be mediated by prostaglandins. If this hypothesis is correct, then it should be possible to block or reduce the nighttime rise in body temperature by the administration of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors. Rats were injected with the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors sodium salicylate, acetylsalicylic acid, and indomethacin at 5:00 P.M. and at 9:00 A.M. Administration of these drugs had little effect on body temperature during the day but caused a significant fall in body temperature at night when temperature is normally in the rising or plateau phase of the cycle. We conclude that prostaglandin synthesis is an important component of the circadian rise in body temperature in the rat. In addition, evidence is presented that there exists a cryogenic factor that opposes the nighttime prostaglandin-mediated rise in body temperature.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Saha, L. Engstrom, L. Mackerlova, P.-J. Jakobsson, and A. Blomqvist Impaired febrile responses to immune challenge in mice deficient in microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, May 1, 2005; 288(5): R1100 - R1107. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. I. Ivanov, A. C. Scheck, and A. A. Romanovsky Expression of genes controlling transport and catabolism of prostaglandin E2 in lipopolysaccharide fever Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, March 1, 2003; 284(3): R698 - R706. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. I. Ivanov, R. S. Pero, A. C. Scheck, and A. A. Romanovsky Prostaglandin E2-synthesizing enzymes in fever: differential transcriptional regulation Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, November 1, 2002; 283(5): R1104 - R1117. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. I. Luker, D. Mitchell, and H. P. Laburn Fever and motor activity in rats following day and night injections of Staphylococcus aureus cell walls Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, August 1, 2000; 279(2): R610 - R616. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. A. Steiner and L. G. S. Branco Central CO-heme oxygenase pathway raises body temperature by a prostaglandin-independent way J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2000; 88(5): 1607 - 1613. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. L. Robinson and C. A. Fuller Endogenous thermoregulatory rhythms of squirrel monkeys in thermoneutrality and cold Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, May 1, 1999; 276(5): R1397 - R1407. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Philippe, P. Gegout-Pottie, C. Guingamp, K. Bordji, B. Terlain, P. Netter, and P. Gillet Relations between functional, inflammatory, and degenerative parameters during adjuvant arthritis in rats Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, October 1, 1997; 273(4): R1550 - R1556. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]