Thermoregulation in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats: Effects of Antihypertensive Treatments

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Abstract
Colonic temperature was measured in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and Wistar Charles River (WIS) rats. The SHRs had higher basal temperature and their temperature decreased more rapidly when exposed to 4 degrees C than temperature of controls. During exposure to 37 degrees C for 2 hrs no controls but majority of SHRs died. Treatment with clonidine (1 mg/kg, b.i.d., 14 days), hydralazine (10 mg/kg, b.i.d., 14 days) or diuretics (chlorothiazide 100 mg/kg + spironolactone 10 mg/kg, q.d., 21 days) decreased blood pressure of SHRs but did not normalize their body temperatures and heat sensitivity. These results indicate thermoregulatory dysfunction in SHRs which is probably of central origin.