Salicylate: action on normal body temperature in rats.

Rats receiving intraperitoneal injections of sodium salicylate (30 to 300 milligrams per kilogram of body weight) showed a decline in rectal temperature of up to 5.5 degrees C when placed in a 5 degrees C environment. High dosages of salicylate lowered the rectal temperatures of rats kept in a 23 degrees C environment. The finding that salicylate can lower nonfebrile body temperature suggests that this class of antipyretic agents does affect normal temperature regulation.