Effects of thyrotrophic-releasing hormone (TRH) on thermoregulation in the rat

Summary At ambient temperatures (T_a) of both 8 and 22°C, intraventricular administration of TRH (10–80 g) produced a dose-dependent hypothermia in rats. The hypothermia was due to both decreased metabolic heat production and cutaneous vasodilatation. In contrast, at 30°C T_a, TRH increased metabolic heat production (due to behavioral excitation) and led to hyperthermia.This work was supported by the grants from the National Science Council of Republic of China and the Pjing-Ling Neurological Foundation (VGH, Taipei, Taiwan).