Abstract:To further highlight Guizhi Tang's mechanism of dual-directional thermoregulation,the 15-PGDH activity in pyretic and hypothermia rats was detected using isotopic tracing assay.A decrease in PGDH activity paralleled with a pronounced rise in body temperature in rat hypothalamus 5.5hr after a s.c. yeast-injection was observed and both the responses was counteracted by the treatment of Guizhi Tang orally in a dose-dependent manner.Aminopyrine induced a tendency to enhance PGDH activity and a marked drop in body temperature meanwhile in rats 1 hr later,but there was a poor relation between changes in body temperature and in activity of PGDH evoked by Guizhi Tang.Present data suggest that PGDH in hypothalamus may play a role in thermoregulation in rats and is also a target of antipyretic action of Guizhi Tang,but it probably does not contribute to anti-hypothermia action of Guizhi Tang.
