Evidence for thermoregulatory dopaminergic receptors located in the preopticus medialis nucleus of the rat hypothalamus.

Systemic administration of apomorphine induces hypothermia in anaesthetized rats as well as in conscious rats exposed to an ambient temperature of 22 degrees C. The central nature of this effect is confirmed by the antagonism exerted by haloperidol and the lack of antagonism with domperidone. Dopamine receptors involved in the hypothermic effect of apomorphine seem to be located in the preopticus medialis nucleus (p.o.m.n.) of the hypothalamus since: (i) injections of apomorphine (5 ng), dopamine (100 ng) or (+)-amphetamine (50 ng) into this nucleus induce hpothermia, (ii) haloperidol injected into the p.o.m.n. antagonizes the hypothermic effect of a systemic administration of apomorphine, (iii) heat lesions of the p.o.m.n. strongly reduce the hypothermic effect of a systemic injection of apomorphine.