Inhibition of the central heme oxygenase-carbon monoxide pathway increases 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced hypothermia in rats

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that carbon monoxide (CO) plays a role in 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG)-induced hypothermia. The body temperature (T-b) Of awake, unrestrained rats was measured before and after systemic administration of 2-DG (50 mg/kg) and intracerebroventricular administration of zinc deuteroporphyrin 2,4-bis glycol (ZnDPBG, a heme-oxygenase inhibitor, 200 nmol/4 mu l). We observed a significant reduction in body temperature after 2-DG injection. ZnDPBG alone caused no significant change in body temperature. When the two treatments were combined, 2-DG-induced hypothermia was significantly increased. The data indicate that heme oxygenase-carbon monoxide pathway plays a key role in 2-DG-induced hypothermia, inhibiting 2-DG-induced hypothermia. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.