Effect of triethyltin on autonomic and behavioral thermoregulation of mice

Abstract

The organotin compound, triethyltin (TET), produces toxic effects in a variety of physiological systems. Thermoregulatory control appears to be especially susceptible to TET toxicity, since TET administration has been shown to cause a pronounced hypothermia in rats. To further elucidate effects of TET on thermoregulation, we measured metabolic rate, evaporative water loss (EWL), body temperature, and preferred ambient temperature ( T a) of mice treated intraperitoneally with TET (bromide salt). At a T a of 23 to 24°C, TET (6 and 8 mg/kg) inhibited metabolic rate by 23 and 66%, respectively. TET resulted in hypothermia at T a's of 20 and 30°C but not 35°C. TET had little effect on EWL. Mice given TET at doses of 4, 6, and 8 mg/kg selected a cooler T a (ca. 25°C) compared to controls (ca. 29°C). Thus, the mice selected a T a associated with a hypothermic body temperature. At a relatively cool T a, mice treated with TET had a reduced rate of heat production and, consequently, were hypothermic. At a relatively warm T a, TET had no effect on heat production and did not increase active heat dissipation (i.e., EWL), thus the mice remained normothermic. The behavioral data indicate that TET evokes a type of regulated hypothermia in mice.