Effects of clonidine and xylazine on body temperature in the rat

Article date: January 1984

By: A. Livingston, J. Low, B. Morris in Volume 81, Issue 1, pages 189-193

Clonidine and xylazine injected intraperitoneally both produced a dose‐dependent hypothermia in unanaesthetized, freely moving rats.

The α2‐antagonist yohimbine produced an antagonism of the xylazine‐induced hypothermia but a potentiation of the clonidine‐induced hypothermia.

The opioid antagonist naloxone had little effect on the xylazine hypothermia, but potentiated the clonidine hypothermia.

It is concluded that whilst the two α2‐agonists produce a similar hypothermic effect in the rat, they are acting by different mechanisms.

Clonidine and xylazine injected intraperitoneally both produced a dose‐dependent hypothermia in unanaesthetized, freely moving rats.

The α2‐antagonist yohimbine produced an antagonism of the xylazine‐induced hypothermia but a potentiation of the clonidine‐induced hypothermia.

The opioid antagonist naloxone had little effect on the xylazine hypothermia, but potentiated the clonidine hypothermia.

It is concluded that whilst the two α2‐agonists produce a similar hypothermic effect in the rat, they are acting by different mechanisms.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1984.tb10760.x

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