Sodium selenite-induced hypothermia in mice: indirect evidence for a neural effect.

The effect of sodium selenite (SS) on the body temperature of adult male ICR mice was examined. SS (10-60 mumol/kg) administered subcutaneously resulted in a transient and dose-dependent hypothermia at ambient temperatures (Ta) of 20 and 30 degrees C. Reduced oxygen consumption accompanied the changes in body temperature. In addition, SS-treated mice exhibited transient cold-seeking behavior in the thermogradient. This SS-induced hypothermia was very similar to those induced by ethanol, tetrahydrocannabinol, triethyltin, sulfolane, and chlordimeform in that these all were transient, dependent on Ta, and not counteracted by behavioral thermoregulation. From these results, involvement of neural afferent or integral pathways is suggested. Further, acute mortality of SS-injected mice was enhanced with the elevation of Ta, as in the case of the chemicals mentioned above. Considering the diverse chemical and pharmacological properties of these chemicals, these results may suggest a possible interrelation between the hypothermic response and the modification of toxicity.