The current study investigated the effects of acute and chronic administration of (+)-SKF 10,047 on body temperature in rats. The effect of phencyclidine on body temperature in chronically (+)-SKF 10,047-treated rats was also investigated. The acute administration of (+)-SKF 10,047 at doses of 5 to 40 mg/kg s.c. did not alter body temperature; however, 80 mg/kg produced hypothermia. In contrast, chronic administration of (+)-SKF 10,047 (5-20 mg/kg) produced dose-dependent hyperthermia when tested on day 7 and 10 of chronic treatment. Moreover, sensitization to the hyperthermic effects occurred as the degree of hyperthermia was greater on day 10 compared to day 7. Phencyclidine (20 mg/kg s.c.) produced hypothermia in rats chronically treated with saline for 13 days, but hyperthermia in rats chronically treated with 20 mg/kg of (+)-SKF 10,047 for the same duration. The hyperthermic effect of chronic (+)-SKF 10,047 treatment is similar to the previously reported dose-dependent hyperthermia in chronically phencyclidine-treated animals. The cross-sensitization of chronically (+)-SKF 10,047-treated rats to the hyperthermic effects of phencyclidine supports the hypothesis that there may be common mechanisms underlying the chronic effects of these drugs on body temperature.