Hypothermic effects of N-n-propylnorapomorphine in mice: antagonism by neurotransmitter receptor blockers.

Six receptor blockers were compared in mice for their ability to alter hypothermia induced by the dopamine agonist N-n-propylnorapomorphine (NPA). The dopamine antagonist haloperidol inhibited NPA-induced hypothermia whereas phentolamine, propranolol, sotalol, atropine, cyproheptadine, or naloxone (alpha-adrenergic, beta-adrenergic, muscarinic cholinergic, serotonergic, and opiate antagonists, respectively) failed to inhibit it. The degree of antagonism of the hypothermic effect of NPA induced by haloperidol pretreatment suggests that the hypothermic response may serve as a useful model of specific dopaminergic activity of aporphines. Hypothermia induced by NPA and other aporphines may supplement the measure of aporphine-induced stereotypic cage-climbing previously reported to be specifically dopaminergic.