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Temperature regulation and prostaglandin E1 fever in scorpions.
Author(s) -
Cabanac M,
Le Guelte L
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.1980.sp013291
Subject(s) - scorpion , prostaglandin e1 , saline , chemistry , zoology , biology , anesthesia , toxicology , medicine , endocrinology , ecology , venom
1. Scorpions Buthus occitanus and Androctonus australis were placed in a temperature gradient where they could select their thermopreferendum. Intrathoracic temperature was recorded continuously. 2. Both species selected 24.8 +/‐ 1.0 degrees C as their preferred body temperature. No nycthemeral cycle of preference was observed in the experimental conditions. Saline injection did not modify this thermopreferendum. 3. Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) produced a fever. Duration and magnitude of fevers were related to PGE1 doses in a bell‐shaped curve. The longest and highest fevers were obtained with 4 microgram . g‐1 PGE1. 4. These results show that there is an ability to produce fever and, thus, indirectly, that there is a set point in body temperature regulation in arthropods, among the oldest known terrestrial animals.