Effects of superior cervical ganglionectomy on body temperature and on the lipopolysaccharide-induced febrile response in rats

The involvement of the cervical sympathetic ganglia (SCG) on body temperature and during the occurrence of the induced febrile response was investigated in rats. Bilateral superior cervical gaglionectomy (SCGx) attenuated the daily dark-phase temperature compared to that of the sham-operated rats during the first 2 days post surgery. Body temperatures returned to pre-surgery levels by Day-3. Ten days after surgery, a febrile response was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) immune challenge. SCGx significantly blunted the LPS-induced febrile response. These data suggest that obliteration of the cervical sympathetic peripheral innervation impairs the capability to produce an induced febrile response.