Moderate intensity, exercise-induced catecholamine release in the preoptic area and anterior hypothalamus in rats is enhanced in a warm environment

Thermoeffector responses and core body temperature (Tcore) homeostasis during exercise are affected by both ambient temperature and exercise intensity. We have previously reported that Tcore, heat loss responses, and catecholamine release in the preoptic area and anterior hypothalamus (PO/AH) increased during incremental treadmill running. However, no previous study has examined whether changes in the thermoregulatory responses at warm ambient temperature are related to catecholamine responses during moderate intensity exercise in rats. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the responsiveness of neurotransmission in the PO/AH to moderate intensity exercise at different ambient temperatures, and to relate this to changes in thermoregulation. We measured the monoamine levels in the PO/AH and the thermoregulatory responses in exercising rats simultaneously using a combination of methods, including in vivo microdialysis, biotelemetry, and animal O2/CO2 metabolism measuring system. On the day of experiments, rats ran for 60 min at a speed of 18 m min−1 on a treadmill at a 5% gradient, in an ambient temperature of 23 °C or 30 °C. Tcore, tail skin temperature (Ttail; an index of heat loss), and oxygen consumption (V̇O2: an index of heat production) were monitored. Dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), and serotonin (5-HT) levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. Exercise significantly increased the Tcore, Ttail, and V̇O2 values, as well as DA and NA release in the PO/AH at both temperatures, and the increases were more pronounced at the warm ambient temperature. The results suggest that the increase in the Tcore, heat production, and heat loss responses even during moderate intensity running in a warm environment are likely associated with an increase in DA and NA release in the PO/AH region.