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Influence of increased catecholamine levels in blood plasma during cold-adaptation and intramuscular infusion on thresholds of thermoregulatory reactions in guinea-pigs

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Summary

Catecholamines and some of their metabolites were determined in urine and blood plasma of guinea-pigs before, during and after acclimation to a cold or warm environment. During adaptation to 5°C the amounts of noradrenaline in plasma and 24-h urine samples continuously increased up to 600% compared with values obtained at an ambient temperature of 22°C. Higher levels of dihydroxyphenylglycol and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol further indicated an increased turnover of noradrenaline during cold adaptation. Acclimation to an ambient temperature of 28°C reduced the peripheral release of noradrenaline in comparison to the release observed at 22°C. Cold-induced increases in metabolic rate and electrical muscle activity both occur at a considerably lower mean body temperature in cold-than in warm-adapted guinea-pigs. The shift of thermoregulatory cold defence reactions to a lower mean body temperature could also be observed in warm-adapted animals after intramuscular infusion of noradrenaline in amounts comparable to those released during cold adaptation.

It is concluded that high peripheral sympathetic activity directly or indirectly inhibits noradrenergic neurons in the lower brain stem that modulate the thermoregulatory control system by means of their afferents to the hypothalamus. As a consequence of this peripheral influence the thermoregulatory set point is shifted to a lower mean body temperature.

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Abbreviations

A :

adrenaline

CA :

cold adapted

CNS :

central nervous system

DHPG :

dihydroxyphenylglycol

EMA :

electrical muscle activity

HPLC :

high performance liquid chromatography

5-HT :

5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonine)

MHPG :

3-methoxy-4-hydroxypheyylglycol

MR :

metabolic rate

NA :

noradrenaline

T b :

mean body temperature

WA :

warm adapted

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiologisches Institut, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Aulweg 129, D-6300, Giessen, Federal Republic of Germany

    Joachim Roth & Eugen Zeisberger

  2. Kinderkrankenhaus, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Feulgenstrasse 12, D-6300, Giessen, Federal Republic of Germany

    Hans-Joachim Schwandt

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  1. Joachim Roth
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  2. Eugen Zeisberger
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  3. Hans-Joachim Schwandt
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Roth, J., Zeisberger, E. & Schwandt, HJ. Influence of increased catecholamine levels in blood plasma during cold-adaptation and intramuscular infusion on thresholds of thermoregulatory reactions in guinea-pigs. J Comp Physiol B 157, 855–863 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691018

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