Evidence for the involvement of eicosanoids in the regulation of normal body temperature

(1) In CD-1 mice and Sprague-Dawley rats, dark-induced elevation of body te mperature (T-b) was accompanied by an increase in hypothalamic prostaglandi n E-2 (PGE(2)) production. (2) Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, at a dose (5 mg/kg) that did not affect the daytime values of T-b, prevented the increase of T-b after the onset of darkness. (3) Pretreatment of mice w ith the inhibitor of leukotriene synthesis, MK-886 (1 mg/kg), prevented the decrease of daytime T-b. (4) The results suggest the involvement of PGE(2) and leukotrienes in the regulation of normal daily variations of T-b. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.