Prostaglandin involvement in hyperthermia induced by sleep deprivation: A pharmacological and autoradiographic study

AimsHyperthermia is a characteristic functional effect of sleep deprivation (SD). We hypothesize here that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) could be involved in hyperthermia induced by sleep deprivation.Main methodsTo address this issue we examined the effects of a selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor (COX-2) agent on hyperthermia induced by SD in rats. We also investigated binding to PGE2 receptors in hypothalamic brain areas of sleep-deprived rats using in vitro autoradiography. Male Wistar rats were deprived of sleep for 96 h using the platform technique. Sleep deprived and control groups received saline or Celecoxib (20, 30 and 40 mg/kg; p.o.) daily during the SD period. Colonic temperature was measured daily.Key findingsResults indicated that core temperature of sleep-deprived rats that receiving saline increased from the first to the fourth day of SD compared to baseline and to the respective control group. However, the hyperthermia induced by SD was not blocked by COX-2 inhibitor at any dose. ³H]PGE2 binding did not differ significantly among the groups in any of a number of hypothalamic areas examined.SignificanceAlthough SD rats showed no response to the COX-2 inhibitor and no alterations in ³H]PGE2 binding, the possibility remains that other prostaglandin system and/or receptor subtypes may be altered by SD.