Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide induces hyperthermia inthe rat

The effects of centrally administered pituitary adenylate cyclase-activatin g polypeptide (PACAP-38) on body temperature were investigated in rats. Int racerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of PACAP-38 in doses of 500 an d 1000 ng induced a dose-related elevation in colon temperature 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h after injection. The i.c.v. pretreatment of the animals with differ ent dilutions of PACAP-38 antiserum prevented the development of hypertherm ia in PACAP-38-treated animals, whereas PACAP-38 antiserum alone did not mo dify the colon temperature. An intramuscular injection of noraminophenazone (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor) abolished the PACAP-38-induced hyperthermia. Our data indicate that PACAP may induce hyperthermia via the central nervou s system, and this hyperthermic effect may be mediated via a cyclooxygenase -involved pathway. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.