title: Intracerebroventricular physostigmine facilitates heat loss mechanisms in running rats.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the participation of central cholinergic transmission in the regulation of metabolic rate, core temperature, and heat storage in untrained rats submitted to exercise on a treadmill (20 m/min, 5% inclination) until fatigue. The animals were separated into eight experimental groups, and core temperature or metabolic rate was measured in the rats while they were exercising or while they were at rest after injection of 2 microl of 5 x 10(-3) M physostigmine (Phy) or 0.15 M NaCl solution (Sal) into the lateral cerebral ventricle. Metabolic rate was determined by the indirect calorimetry system, and colonic temperature was recorded as an index of core temperature. In resting animals, Phy induced only a small increase in metabolic rate compared with Sal injection, without having any effect on core temperature. During exercise, the Phy-treated animals showed a lower core heating rate (0.022 +/- 0.003 degrees C/min Phy vs. 0.033 +/- 0.003 degrees C/min Sal; P < 0.02), lower heat storage (285 +/- 37 cal Phy vs. 436 +/- 34 cal Sal; P < 0.02) and lower core temperature at fatigue point than the Sal-treated group (38.5 +/- 0.1 degrees C Phy vs. 39.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C Sal; P < 0.05). However, despite the lower core heating rate, heat storage, and core temperature at fatigue, the Phy-treated rats showed a similar running time compared with the Sal-treated group. We conclude that the activation of the central cholinergic system during exercise increases heat dissipation and attenuates the exercise-induced increase in core temperature without affecting running performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alex G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Nilo R V
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Cândido C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Coimbra
authors.forename: Umeko
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Marubayashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008660:Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010277:Parasympathomimetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010830:Physostigmine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010277:Parasympathomimetics; D010830:Physostigmine