Gordon Christopher J
Toxicology Assessment Division, Neurotoxicology Branch,National Health Effects and Environmental Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA.
Front Biosci (Elite Ed). 2010 Jan 1;2(1):293-311. doi: 10.2741/e91.
The physiological response to environmental toxicants and drugs is modulated by the thermoregulatory system. Environmental and body temperature can affect the entry of toxicants into the body through pulmonary, cutaneous, and gastrointestinal routes. Thermoregulation can ultimately influence the metabolic clearance of chemicals and their toxicity, including lethality. The thermoregulatory response following acute exposure to many toxic chemicals involves a regulated hypothermic response, characterized by activation of autonomic thermoeffectors to raise heat loss and a behavioral preference for cooler temperatures. Moderate hypothermia in rodents improves recovery and survival following toxic exposure. In relatively large mammals, including humans, the hypothermic response is minimal. Fever-like responses are often seen in humans and other large mammals exposed to many toxicants. Fever is also observed in rodents exposed to some toxicants provided that core temperature can be monitored without disturbing the animal (e.g., telemetry). Overall, the universal effects of temperature on chemical toxicity call for researchers to have a better understanding of how body and ambient temperature affect the physiological response to environmental toxicants.
体温调节系统可调节机体对环境毒物和药物的生理反应。环境温度和体温可通过肺、皮肤和胃肠道途径影响毒物进入体内。体温调节最终会影响化学物质的代谢清除及其毒性，包括致死性。急性接触许多有毒化学物质后的体温调节反应包括一种调节性低温反应，其特征是自主热效应器被激活以增加热量散失，以及行为上对较凉爽温度的偏好。啮齿动物的适度低温可改善中毒后的恢复和存活率。在包括人类在内的相对大型的哺乳动物中，低温反应很轻微。人类和其他大型哺乳动物在接触许多毒物后常出现类似发热的反应。在能够在不干扰动物的情况下监测核心温度（例如通过遥测）的条件下，给啮齿动物接触某些毒物时也会观察到发热现象。总体而言，温度对化学毒性的普遍影响要求研究人员更好地了解体温和环境温度如何影响机体对环境毒物的生理反应。
