title: Ribavirin-induced behavioral, body temperature and electrocortical spectra effects in the rat.
abstract: Behavioral, electrocortical spectra and body temperature effects, following a single intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of ribavirin, were studied in male adult rats. Ribavirin, when administered i.p., induced squatting posture, sedation, electrocortical synchronization, piloerection and a slight decrease of tactile and/or auditory stimuli/responses lasting from 45 min to 16 hr, as well as a longer lasting hypothermic effect. Following i.c.v. administration, ribavirin (50, 100 and 200 micrograms) elicited a soporific effect and produced changes in the electrocortical spectra. Pretreatment, 15 min before, with either prazosin (10 mg/kg, i.p.), an alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocker, or piperoxan (20 mg/kg, i.p.) and yohimbine (1 mg/kg, i.p.), two alpha 2-adrenoceptor blockers, or naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.), an opioid antagonist, did not prevent the hypothermic and behavioral effects induced by i.p. or i.c.v. administration of ribavirin. The present findings exclude an involvement of alpha-adrenergic and opioid neurotransmission in mediating the hypothermic, electrocortical and behavioral effects induced by ribavirin.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Sarro
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naccari
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: De Sarro
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ammendola
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rotiroti
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Trimarchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D015016:Yohimbine; D009270:Naloxone; D012254:Ribavirin; D009638:Norepinephrine; D011224:Prazosin