Serotonine and Temperature Control

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Abstract
At normal body temperature as well as during pyrogen‐induced fever, injections of 5‐HT into the 3rd brain ventricle were found to cause peripheral vasodilatation, polypnea and a marked fall in brain, blood (right heart) and rectal temperature in 2 out of 3 goats. In the 3rd goat, which later developed encephalitis, 5‐HT caused a short initial period of peripheral vasodilatation, followed by a syndrome, having all the characteristics of pyrogen‐induced fever. Injections of small amount of catecholamines into the 3rd brain ventricle did not alter significantly the rectal temperature of the goats. The findings are discussed in relation to a recent hypothesis according to which body temperature is the outcome of a fine balance in the release of catecholamines and of 5‐HT in the hypothalamus.