Modification of oxotremorine tremor and hypothermia by injections of drugs into the cerebral ventricles of the mouse.

1. The effect of various agents injected into the cerebral ventricles of the mouse, upon the tremor and hypothermia produced by oxotremorine (0.5 mg/kg i.p.) was studied. 2. Acetylcholine (0.1-10 mug) produced a dose-dependent potentiation of oxotremorine tremor in contrast to the multiphasic effect it had on the accompanying hypothermia. Both tremor and hypothermia were antagonised by very small doses (0.1-10 ng) of atropine. 3. Dopamine and apomorphine (0.1-10 mug) had no significant effect on oxotremorine tremor. A dose-dependent potentiation of hypothermia was, however, observed. 4. Noradrenaline (0.1-10 mug), phentolamine and propranolol (0.1-10 mug) produced no significant effect on tremor and inconsistent results were obtained on hypothermia. 5. Neither tremor nor hypothermia were affected by 5-hydroxytryptamine (1-20 mug). 6. Oxotremorine tremor appears to be due solely to the activation of cholinergic pathways, whereas the production of hypothermia is brought about via a system involving both cholinergic and dopaminergic components. 5-Hydroxytryptamine is not involved.