Effect of the serotonin agonist, MK-212, on body temperature in schizophrenia

The effects of 6-chloro-2-(1-piperaziny)pyrazine (MK-212), a centrally acting 5-HT1C/5-HT2 agonist, on body temperature and behavior were assessed using a single-blind cross-over design in 23 schizophrenic patients and 22 normal controls. Body temperature was assessed before drug administration and at 30-min intervals for 3 hr. Each subject was administered placebo or MK-212. MK-212 significantly elevated temperature in normal controls. There was no overall MK-212-induced increase in temperature compared to placebo in the schizophrenic patients; however, 13 of 23 (56.5%) patients had a larger increase in temperature after MK-212 than placebo, 3 of 23 (13.1%) had no change, whereas the temperature change after placebo was greater than after MK-212 in 7 of 23 (30.4%) patients. MK-212 produced significant increases in nausea, feeling strange, and arousal but these effects did not differ between groups. These results are consistent with decreased 5-HT2 receptor responsivity in some patients with schizophrenia.