Hypothalamic heating and cooling in monoamine-depleted rabbits

The role of monoamines in the thermoregulatory responses induced by hypothalamic heating and cooling was investigated in conscious rabbits. Depletion of hypothalamic catecholamines by pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) greatly attenuated the rectal temperature and vasomotor responses to hypothalamic heating and cooling. Pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) depleted the animals of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). The results obtained are consistent with 5-HT having an inhibitory role in the rabbit's vasomotor response to heat stress and activating heat conservation during cold stress. Reserpinized rabbit were depleted of both norepinephrine (NE) and 5-HT and were found to be unresponsive to hypothalamic temperature changes. We conclude that the integrity of the monoaminergic system is viral for the correct functioning of the hypothalamus in maintaining a constant body temperature.