Higher environmental temperature-induced increase of body temperature: involvement of central opioidergic-GABAergic...

Exposure (2 h) of male albino rats to higher environmental temperature (HET, 40 degrees C) significantly increased the body temperature (BT). Administration of bicuculline (1 mg/kg, i.p.), physostigmine (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.), or their combination significantly raised the BT of normal rats (kept at 28 degrees C) or of HET-exposed rats. Atropine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) abolished the hyperthermic effect of bicuculline in normal and HET-exposed rats. The BT of normal and HET-exposed rat was increased with morphine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and was reduced with naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Bicuculline or physostigmine-induced rise in BT of HET-exposed rats was potentiated following cotreatment of physostigmine with morphine. Atropine-induced hypothermia was abolished due to the cotreatment of atropine with morphine with physostigmine but was attenuated with atropine. In normal rats (kept at 28 degrees C), only atropine attenuated (morphine + bicuculline)-induced hyperthermia. L-Dopa + carbidopa or haloperidol did not significantly affect the BT of rats under similar conditions. These results suggest that short-term (2 h) exposure to HET activates the opioidergic neuron, which activates cholinergic activity through the inhibition of GABAergic system and, thus, enhances the BT.