Opiate receptor mediated hyperthermic responses in rat following Ca++ channel antagonists

The effects of morphine sulfate on rectal temperature and on Ca++-stimulated Mg++ATPase activity in crude synaptosomal fraction (P2) of cortex, hypothalamus and cerebellum were investigated in rat. Morphine (3-15 mg/kg, SC) produced hyperthermia at 30-120 min after the drug administration. The Ca++/Mg++ ATPase activity in hypothalamus and cortex was decreased while there was no change in Mg++ ATPase activity. The enzyme activity in cerebellum was not affected. The opiate antagonist naloxone hydrochloride (5 mg/kg, SC) antagonized the effect of morphine on rectal temperature and Ca++/Mg++ ATPase activity. The effects of different calcium channel antagonists (nimodipine 1 mg/kg, verapamil 2.5 mg/kg and diltiazem 10 mg/kg, SC) on the changes induced by morphine were also investigated. These antagonists not only antagonized morphine hyperthermia, but also the inhibitory effect of morphine on Ca++/Mg++ ATPase activity in hypothalamus. The calcium channel agonist BAY K8644 (3 mg/kg, SC) produced hypothermia and also stimulation of Ca++/Mg++ ATPase activity in hypothalamus. Naloxone failed to alter these effects of BAY K8644. These studies demonstrate that Ca++ transport in hypothalamus, as indicated by Ca++/Mg++ ATPase activity, plays an important role in thermoregulation and thermoregulatory changes induced by opiates.