The effect of capsaïcin on temperature regulation of the rat

Abstract

Subcutaneous injection of capsaïcin (6–11 mg, or 21–66 mg cumulative), permanently reduced the capacity of rats to withstand a hot environment, as described by Jancsó-Gábor et al. (1970). The treated rats thermoregulatory behaviour was not different from that of control rats, both in hot and cold environments. Saliva secretion was decreased in a hot environment, and the weight of the submaxillary glands was reduced in capsaïcinized rats. It is concluded that hyperthermia present in treated rats when subjected to a warm environment is not due to a disruption ofsensu stricto temperature regulation, but rather to a decreased salivary secretion. Whether this decrease has a central or a peripheral origin is not known.