Effect of acute verapamil treatment on body temperature in nucleus basalismagnocellularis-lesioned rats

Our recent studies suggest that lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellula ris (nbm) in rats induce a significant decrease of core body temperature in standard laboratory conditions. Considering the importance of calcium home ostasis in thermoregulation, as well as in the pathogenesis of neurodegener ation, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of acute verapamil treatment on body temperature in nbm-lesioned rats. The body temp erature was registered before and 30 min after verapamil was subcutaneously administered (1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg). Verapamil did not change body temperature in control animals. However, verapamil in doses of 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg significantly increased the core body temperature in nbm-lesioned ra ts nearly up to the temperature of control animals. Findings that verapamil in doses of 1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg did not change body temperature in nbm-lesi oned suggest the existence of an inverted U-shape curve in its effect.