Evidence That the Rise in Temperature Produced by d-Amphetamine is Caused by a Peripheral Action of the Drug

Abstract

It is not always easy to decide the extent to which certain “central” effects of drugs might be mediated peripherally or might result from interfering with a peripheral signal to the brain. We became concerned with this problem after the demonstration that the pronounced hyperactivity elicited by large doses of triiodothyronine in mice was markedly reduced by ganglionic blocking agents, such as chlorisondamine. Since amphetamine acts indirectly through the release of NE (1), we are investigating the possibility that those effect to which tolerance is readily acquired might result from a depletion of catecholamine stores at the locus of action.