Putrescine has hypothermic and antipyretic activity, in rats

Intraperitoneal injection of putrescine induced dose-related hypothermia in rats. The effect was more pronounced at room temperature (22 degrees C) than in a warm environment (30 degrees C), the maximum hypothermia (-2.64 +/- 0.29 degrees C, 30 min. after treatment) being obtained with the dose of 300 mg/Kg and remaining significant throughout 3 hr of observation. Putrescine also had antipyretic activity, as it significantly reduced pyrogen-induced fever at a dose level (100 mg/Kg i.p.) ineffective in causing hypothermia in normal rats. The hypothermic and antipyretic effects of putrescine were not associated with any obvious sign of toxicity.