Dissimilar effects on body temperature in the cat produced by guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate, acetylcholine and bacterial endotoxin.

1 Guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) and N2-2'-O-dibutyryl guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (db cyclic GMP) have been injected into the third cerebral ventricle (i.c.v.) of the unanaesthetized cat and the effects of rectal temperature and on behavioural and autonomic activities observed and compared with those of acetylcholine and physostigmine. 2 Acetylcholine (100 nmol) and physostigmine (100 nmol) injected together i.c.v. produced a rise in body temperature in cats at an environmental temperature of 20-24 degrees C, which was abolished by pretreatment i.c.v. with atropine (200 nmol). 3 Cyclic GMP and db cyclic GMP (10--1250 nmol) had no effect on body temperature in cats at an environmental temperature of 20--24 degrees C but produced hypothermia (1250 nmol) in cats at an environmental temperature of 9--11 degrees C. 4 The O-somatic antigen of Shigella dysenteriae (20 microgram/kg i.v.) produced fever in cats which was not potentiated by caffeine (25 mg/kg i.p.). Levels of endogenous cyclic GMP in c.s.f. taken from the cisterna magna during fever induced by bacterial endotoxin in the presence or absence of paracetamol (50 mg/kg i.p.) and/or caffeine were similar to values for afebrile cats. 5 It is concluded that exogenous cyclic GMP and db cyclic GMP can inhibit central events mediating autonomic and behavioural thermoregulation stimulated in cats by exposure to cold environments.