The effect of noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine injected into a lateral cerebral ventricle, on thermoregulation in the new-born lamb.

1. Respiratory frequency, shivering, ear skin temperatures and rectal temperatures were observed following intraventricular injections of noradrenaline (NA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and saline (NaCl) into new-born lambs exposed to ambient temperatures of 4, 21, or 30 degrees C. 2. Intraventricular NA caused respiratory rate to decrease and body temperature to increase in the 30 degrees C environment. At 21 degrees C, it increased ear skin temperature but did not significantly affect rectal temperature. At 4 degrees C, NA decreased shivering and rectal temperature fell. 3. 5-HT elevated respiratory rate in the 30 degrees C environment and increased ear skin temperature in the 21 and 4 degrees C environments. In the 4 degrees C environment rectal temperature decreased. 4. In general, the change in rectal temperature was related to the dosage of drug administered. Control injections of NaCl had no significant effect on any of the variables measured. 5. The monoaminergic pathways involved in thermoregulation in the new-born lamb appear to be organized in a manner similar to that of the adult sheep and are functional at birth.