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J Appl Physiol 98: 1813-1819, 2005. First published December 3, 2004; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00842.2004
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Influence of brain angiotensin on thermoregulation and hydromineral balance during pregnancy in rats

Melissa J. Cairns,1 Peta Burns,1 Robert Di Nicolantonio,2 Michael J. McKinley,1,2 and Michael L. Mathai1

1Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, and 2Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

Submitted 5 August 2004 ; accepted in final form 30 November 2004

During mammalian pregnancy, body temperature decreases and there are changes in fluid and electrolyte balance. Angiotensin signaling mechanisms in the brain have been shown to influence thermoregulation and body fluid balance in the nonpregnant state. We hypothesized that brain angiotensin is also implicated in adjusting these physiological systems in the pregnant rat. We compared core temperature and fluid regulation in three groups of pregnant rats: untreated rats, rats receiving continuous infusion of an AT1 antagonist candesartan (5 µg·kg–1·day–1) into a lateral cerebral ventricle to block brain AT1 receptors, and rats receiving vehicle [artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF)] vehicle. Untreated and aCSF-treated rats showed a decrease in colonic temperature (–0.5 and –0.8°C respectively) by day 20 of gestation. However, rats treated with candesartan had increased colonic temperature compared with baseline (+0.9°C), and their temperature was significantly higher on days 7 (P < 0.05), 17 (P < 0.05), and 20 (P < 0.001) compared with the other groups (aCSF and untreated). Daily food and water intakes and body weight were not different between the three groups. Similarly, litter sizes and pup weights were equal in all groups. Finally, the expected decreases in plasma Na+ and osmolality during pregnancy were equivalent in all groups. This study suggests that brain angiotensin mediates the progressive decrease in body temperature that occurs during pregnancy. However, the changes in fluid balance associated with pregnancy are not dependent on brain angiotensin.

gestational hypothermia; candesartan; osmoregulation; lactation


Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: M. L. Mathai, Howard Florey Institute, Univ. of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia (E-mail: m.mathai{at}hfi.unimelb.edu.au)






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