Stress-induced hyperthermia in translational stress research

Abstract

The stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH) response is the transient change in body temperature in response to acute stress. This body temperature response is part of the autonomic stress response which also results in tachycardia and an increased blood pressure. So far, a SIH response has been found in a variety of species (including rodents, baboons, turtles, pigs, impalas and chimpanzees), and there are indications that stress exposure alters body temperature in humans. This review aims to assess the translational potential and the different aspects of the body temperature reaction in response to stress. If stress-induced temperature changes are consistent across species, the SIH paradigm may be employed in preclinical and clinical setups and provide a tool to examine the pharmacological, genetic and mechanistic background of stress at both the preclinical and the clinical level.