Acetaminophen effects on behavioral thermoregulation in albino rats

Percept Mot Skills. 1999 Feb;88(1):281-91. doi: 10.2466/pms.1999.88.1.281.

Abstract

Acetaminophen (N-Acetyl-p-aminophenol) was administered intraperitoneally to 15 Sprague-Dawley rats partitioned into 3 studies (5 rats per study) using a within subjects, repeated-measures reversal design. Behavioral thermoregulation was assessed in a cold Skinner Box using 5-sec. exposures of microwave radiation [Specific Absorption Rate = 0.34 Watts/kg/(mW/cm2)] as reinforcing stimuli under a fixed-interval 2-min. schedule of positive reinforcement. Doses of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg (in solutions of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%) acetaminophen showed stable rates of operant responding for heat compared with significant changes in rates for comparable doses of aspirin in a 1993 study by Vitulli, et al. Weight reductions and temperature increases varied significantly with before-session and after-session measures, respectively. 1994-95 biochemical data of Murphy, et al. from humans following aspirin or acetaminophen ingestion which affect thermoregulation and sleep patterns are discussed in conjunction with behavioral data from rats.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / pharmacology*
  • Acetaminophen / toxicity
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / pharmacology*
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / toxicity
  • Aspirin / pharmacology
  • Aspirin / toxicity
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
  • Body Temperature Regulation / drug effects*
  • Body Temperature Regulation / physiology
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Operant / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Female
  • Hot Temperature
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Male
  • Microwaves
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sleep / drug effects

Substances

  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Acetaminophen
  • Aspirin