Possible involvement of β2-adrenoceptors in hyperthermic effect of l-ephedrine in rats

Abstract

The experiments were conducted in order to examine the mechanism of hyperthermia induced by β-ephedrine in rats. β-Adrenoceptor agonists have been known to enhance normal body temperature. Therefore, the effect of various β-adrenoceptor agonists on body temperature in rats was examined to clarify the mechanism of action of βephedrine. The results showed that drugs with β2-adrenoceptor agonist activity andβephedrine caused hyperthermia in rats ana this effect was selectively inhibited by pretreatment of animals with propranolol (a mixed β-adrenoceptor antagonist) or butoxamine (a selective β2-adrenoceptor antagonist). These results suggest that hyperthermic action of β-ephedrine may largely be due to its effect on β2-adrenoceptors. © 1985, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.