title: Effect of the serotonin agonist, MK-212, on body temperature in schizophrenia.
abstract: The effects of 6-chloro-2-(1-piperaziny)pyrazine (MK-212), a centrally acting 5-HT1C/5-HT2 agonist, on body temperature and behavior were assessed using a single-blind cross-over design in 23 schizophrenic patients and 22 normal controls. Body temperature was assessed before drug administration and at 30-min intervals for 3 hr. Each subject was administered placebo or MK-212. MK-212 significantly elevated temperature in normal controls. There was no overall MK-212-induced increase in temperature compared to placebo in the schizophrenic patients; however, 13 of 23 (56.5%) patients had a larger increase in temperature after MK-212 than placebo, 3 of 23 (13.1%) had no change, whereas the temperature change after placebo was greater than after MK-212 in 7 of 23 (30.4%) patients. MK-212 produced significant increases in nausea, feeling strange, and arousal but these effects did not differ between groups. These results are consistent with decreased 5-HT2 receptor responsivity in some patients with schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals of Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bastani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Meltzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D011719:Pyrazines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C014896:6-chloro-2-(1-piperazinyl)pyrazine