The action of urocortins on body temperature in rats

The actions of individual urocortins on colon temperature were studied in rats. Urocortin 1, urocortin 2 or urocortin 3 was injected into the lateral brain ventricle in conscious rats and the colon temperature was measured at different times following injection, for up to 6 h. In order to study the possible role of prostaglandins, the animals were treated with either a urocortin together with the pyrazolone derivative noraminophenazone to inhibit the action of cyclooxygenase in initiating hyperthermia, or with noraminophenazone 30 min following urocortin administration to act on existing hyperthermia. Noraminophenazone was administered intramuscularly in a dose of 50 mg/kg. Urocortin 1 caused a dose-related increase in colon temperature, maximal action being observed at a dose of 2 μg with the maximal increase in body temperature at 4 h. Noraminophenazone prevented the urocortin-induced increase in colon temperature and attenuated the already existing elevated body temperature. Somewhat similar action was observed with urocortin 2. However, following treatment with 0.5 or 1.0 μg urocortin 2, the action was already over at 2 h, whereas 2 μg increased the colon temperature steadily, with a maximum at 4 h. Noraminophenazone blocked or diminished the action of urocortin 2. Urocortin 3 in a dose of 1 μg was the most effective in increasing the colon temperature; the maximal effect was observed at 2 h. Noraminophenazone blocked the development of urocortin 3-induced hyperthermia, or attenuated it when the hyperthermia was already present. The results demonstrated that urocortin 1, 2 or 3 caused increases in body temperature when injected into the lateral brain ventricle, though the optimal dose and the duration of hyperthermia differed for the individual urocortins. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor blocked or diminished the action of these urocortins, indicating the involvement of prostaglandins in urocortin-induced hyperthermia.