Temperature Response of the Rat to Action and Interaction of Chlorpromazine, Reserpine and Serotonin

Abstract

Reserpine was found to cause a prolonged increase in oxygen consumption while chlorpromazine and serotonin produced a comparable decline. Consequently, reserpine and chlorpromazine exhibited antagonistic interaction on the temperature response. Serotonin had little effect in modifying the temperature response to chlorpromazine, while prior treatment with serotonin appeared to delay the temperature decline seen with reserpine alone. Since the temperature declined following reserpine, in spite of an increased oxygen consumption, there was indicated both an increased heat production and a greatly increased heat loss. The data suggest that reserpine and chlorpromazine act by different mechanisms. Likewise, it is suggested that while reserpine and serotonin may act at similar sites, it is also apparent that different effector sites are differentially affected as well, at least insofar as thermoregulation is concerned.