Administration of prostaglandin E2 into the striatum induces hyperthermia in rats

Changes in thermoregulatory function were assessed in unanesthetized rats after a unilateral injection of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) into the striatum or the substantia nigra. Intrastriatal injection of PGE2, but not vehicle solution, induced a dose-dependent rise in rectal temperature. The hyperthermia in response to intrastriatal injection of PGE2 was due to increased metabolism and/or cutaneous vasoconstriction. Furthermore, the PGE2-induced hyperthermia was antagonized by prior intrastriatal injection of kainic acid (to destroy cell bodies in the striatum) but not by pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine (to destroy the dopaminergic nerve fibers in the striatum). On the other hand, administration of PGE2 into the substantia nigra induced no significant change in thermoregulatory functions. The data showed that PGE2, when injected into the striatum, may act on cell bodies in the striatum to induce hyperthermia by promoting an increase in heat production and/or vasoconstriction.