Menthol and nicotine oppositely modulate body temperature in the rat.
Menthol is a prominent additive in many tobacco products. To investigate possible interactions with nicotine, (-)-menthol (200 or 400 mg/kg) and (-)-nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) were injected subcutaneously in rats, and body temperature, which is modulated by brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, was measured. Nicotine caused robust (-1.6 degrees C) hypothermia, the magnitude and time course of which was not altered by menthol pretreatment. Menthol alone produced mild (0.4-0.8 degrees C) hyperthermia, which was not secondary to locomotor activation. Nicotine and menthol influence body temperature independently and oppositely; menthol does not appear to influence the function of the central nicotinic receptors that control body temperature.
Ruskin
David N
DN
Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. druskin@uno.edu
Anand
Rene
R
LaHoste
Gerald J
GJ
D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008610:Menthol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D008610:Menthol; D009538:Nicotine