Hibernation in mammalians such as hamsters is a physiological state characterized by an extreme reduction of various functions such as body temperature and metabolism. Under such severe conditions, the central nervous system (CNS) activity is maintained at a functionally responsive level. Although hibernation is an interesting behavioral state, the physiological mechanisms of the introduction to and/or the arousal from hibernation have not been clearly defined. Intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) injected adenosine produces hypothermia in various animals. The effect of adenosine is generated by A1-receptors and is caused by the suppression of the thermogenesis center of the posterior hypothalamus. At on ambient temperature of 5, i.c.v. injected N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) adenosine A1-receptor agonist induces profound hypothermia in hamsters. Although the time course of the descent of body temperature coincided with that of entry into natural hibernation, the effect was not antagonized by 8-cyclopentyltheophyllin (CPT), an adenosine A1-receptor antagonist. However, i.c.v. injection of CPT elevated the body temperature and interrupted hibernation, albeit the deep-phase (post-entry 30 h) was unaffected. This result suggests that a different system may suppress the thermogenesis center in the deep hibernation phase. Interestingly, i.c.v. injected thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) elevated the body temperature in both hibernation phases in hamsters. These findings suggest that the central adenosine and TRH play important roles in thermoregulation and that the new thermogenesis system, activating in low-body temperature, is induced in naturally hibernating animals.