Effect of ambient temperature on the hypometabolic and hypothermic effects of sulfolane in rats.

Sulfolane toxicity may be partially due to its effects on body temperature. To examine the effects of sulfolane on thermoregulation, we measured metabolic rate (oxygen uptake) and body temperature in rats injected intraperitoneally with sulfolane at dosages of 0, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg. At ambient temperatures (Ta) of 15 and 25 degrees C sulfolane caused a dose-related inhibition of metabolic rate accompanied by hypothermia 60 min post-injection. At a Ta of 35 degrees C, sulfolane had no effect on body temperature or metabolic rate. The hypometabolic and hypothermic effect of sulfolane at a Ta of 25 degrees C at least 2.5 h. Sulfolane had near identical effects on body temperature at TaS of 15 and 25 degrees C, hence, the sulfolane-treated rat had some control over body temperature at a relatively low Ta.