Effects of prostaglandin E2 injection into the median preoptic nucleus on body temperature in female mice and its mechanisms

Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui     font:big middle small

Found programs: National Natural Science Foundation of China(No. 32100926);Open Project of Sichuan Clini- cal Medical Research Center for Geriatrics(No. 24LHLNYX1-25);Youth Innovation Research Project of Sichuan Province(No. Q22010)

Authors:Li Ya1,Song Yian1,Ji Qiaofeng2,Xu Lei1,Zhang Jie2,Xu Jianhui2,Hou Xiaoyu1

Keywords:female mice;fever;brown adipose tissue;prostaglandin E2;median preoptic nucleus;EP3 receptor

DOI:10.19405/j.cnki.issn1000-1492.2026.02.009

〔Abstract〕 To investigate the effects of prostaglandin E2(PGE2)microinjection into the median preop- tic nucleus(MnPO)on core body temperature in female mice,and to clarify its underlying mechanism. Methods Microinjection cannula were implanted into the MnPO of female mice using stereotaxic surgery. Subsequently,a multi-channel temperature acquisition system was used to simultaneously monitor rectal and brown adipose tissue (BAT)temperatures before and after intra-MnPO injections of different reagents. To investigate the thermoregula- tory effects of the microinjection of PGE2 into the MnPO,12 female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a sa- line group(n=6)and a PGE2 group(n=6),which were injected with 0. 1 μL saline and PGE2(2. 8 mmol/L),re- spectively. To determine whether E-series prostaglandin receptor(EP)1,EP3,and EP4 receptors mediate the ther- moregulatory effects of PGE2,15 female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups(n=5 per group). Mice in each group first received an injection of 0. 1 μL PGE2(2. 8 mmol/L)into the MnPO. After their body tempera- ture returned to baseline levels,they were subsequently injected with a mixture of either EP 1,EP3 or EP4 antago- nist(ant)(20 mmol/L)+ PGE2(2. 8 mmol/L). Results Compared with baseline level,the rectal temperature(P <0. 01)and BAT temperature(P<0. 001)of female mice both increased significantly after microinjection of PGE2 into the MnPO. Compared with the saline group,the increases in rectal temperature(P<0. 001)and BAT tempera- ture(P<0. 000 1)were significantly greater in the PGE2 group of mice. Furthermore,following the injection of PGE2 into MnPO,the increase in BAT temperature was found to be significantly greater than that in rectal tempera- ture in mice(P<0. 001). Compared to the administration of PGE2 alone,co-injection of an EP3 ant + PGE2 into the MnPO of mice resulted in a significantly smaller increase in both rectal temperature(P<0. 001)and BAT tempera- ture(P<0. 001). In contrast,the increases in rectal and BAT temperatures following MnPO injection of either EP 1 ant + PGE2 or EP4 ant + PGE2 were not statistically significant(P>0. 05). Conclusion Injection of PGE2 into the MnPO elevates BAT and core body temperature in female mice via the EP3 receptor.