Brain norepinephrine and serotonin in the golden hamster during heat and cold acclimation and hypothermia.
1. Norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) were simultaneously assessed in 4 discrete regions of the brain of the golden hamster. 2. Hypothalamic concentrations of both these amines are reported for the following groups: (1) normothermic controls; (2) heat acclimated; (3) cold acclimated; (4) helium-cold hypothermic; (5) rewarming; and (6) rewarmed. 3. Heat acclimated animals demonstrated approximately 35 and 25% decreases from control values for NE and 5-HT, respectively. Cold acclimated hamsters were not significantly different from controls. Helium-cold hypothermia resulted in approximately a 30 and 20% decrease in NE and 5-HT, respectively, with the latter returning to control values during rewarming. 4. The data provide indirect evidence for the involvement of NE in central pathways involving heat gain and 5-HT in pathways involving heat loss, and are discussed in terms of FELBERG & MYER'S (1964 J. Physiol., Lond. 173. 226-236) bioamine theory of thermoregulation.
D000064:Acclimatization; D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006224:Cricetinae / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
D012701:Serotonin; D009638:Norepinephrine