Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in the locus coeruleus and hypothalamus in cold-stressed rats

Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was determined in the locus coeruleus, anterior hypothalamus and posterior hypothalamus of cold-stressed rats. In the acute cold stress, rats were exposed to an ambient temperature of 5 degrees C in a cold room for 5-20 min. In the chronic cold stress, rats were exposed to the same cold temperature for 4 hr once every day in the morning for periods ranging from 1 to 3 weeks. There was decreased DBH activity in the locus coeruleus following acute cold stress and increased activity in both the locus coeruleus and the anterior hypothalamus following the chronically repeated cold stress.