The effect of dopamine on shivering in the rat.

1. Dopamine (0.5--0.2 mumole) injected into a lateral cerebral ventricle inhibited shivering and lowered core temperature in rats at an ambient temperature of 0--5 degrees C. 2. These effects were inhibited by the dopamine antagonist, pimozide, and imitated by the dopamine agonists, piribedil and apomorphine. 3. Pimozide itself had no effect on shivering. 4. It is concluded that while there are inhibitory dopamine receptors on the cold sensor--shivering pathway in the rat they are not concerned in the normal function of this pathway.