Pirenperone effects on temperature preference and body temperature in maturing mice

Abstract Thermoregulatory effects of the selective 5-HT 2 antagonist pirenperone were studied 1 hr after IP injection in mice aged 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days postpartum. Compared with vehicle injected littermates, a dose of 0.16 mg/kg decreased temperature preference (T pref ) on a thermal gradient at all ages. No significant effects were observed on body temperature (T b ) at any of the ages. An increased dose (0.48 mg/kg) caused no greater effect on T pref and no significant effect on T b . These results indicate that T b and T pref are separable on the basis of receptor pharmacology, and are discussed in relation to drug effects on 5-HT 2 receptors.