NMDA receptors are involved in dithiothreitol-induced hypothermia

Sulfhydryl-reducing agents, such as dithiothreitol, modulate glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Since these receptors are involved in thermoregulatory processes, we studied the effects of their positive modulation, through a dithiothreitol-induced reduction of the receptor redox site, on thermoregulation in rats maintained at an ambient temperature of 20-22 degrees C. Given intraperitoneally at the dose of 25 and 50 mg x kg(-1), dithiothreitol induced dose-dependent hypothermia. The prior administration of 0.5 mg x kg(-1) of (+/-)-dizocilpine maleate (MK801), a non-competitive glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist, blocked most of the dithiothreitol-induced hypothermia. MK801 given alone was followed by slight transient hyperthermia. This confirms the involvement of NMDA receptors in thermoregulation and suggests that they might be under redox modulation.