Evidence for specific involvement of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in the regulation of body temperature in the rat.

Administration of the selective dopamine D1 and D2 receptor agonists, A 68930 (0.9-60.0 mumol kg-1 s.c.) and quinpirole (0.1-6.0 mumol kg-1 s.c.), produced a dose-dependent decrease in core temperature in the rat. The hypothermia induced by quinpirole (1.5 mumol kg-1) was antagonized by pretreatment with the selective dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, raclopride (1.6 mumol kg-1 s.c.), but not by the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390 (0.3 mumol kg-1 s.c.), whereas the hypothermia induced by A 68930 (3.8 mumol kg-1) was antagonized by SCH 23390 (0.3 mumol kg-1), but not by raclopride (1.6 mumol kg-1). Together, these results suggest that both dopamine D1 and D2 receptors are specifically involved in the regulation of body temperature in the rat.