Effect of acute verapamil treatment on body temperature in nucleus basalis magnocellularis-lesioned rats

Abstract

Our recent studies suggest that lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (nbm) in rats induce a significant decrease of core body temperature in standard laboratory conditions. Considering the importance of calcium homeostasis in thermoregulation, as well as in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of acute verapamil treatment on body temperature in nbm-lesioned rats. The body temperature was registered before and 30 min after verapamil was subcutaneously administered (1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg). Verapamil did not change body temperature in control animals. However, verapamil in doses of 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg significantly increased the core body temperature in nbm-lesioned rats nearly up to the temperature of control animals. Findings that verapamil in doses of 1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg did not change body temperature in nbm-lesioned suggest the existence of an inverted U-shape curve in its effect.