Interleukin-1 beta production during the onset of heat stroke in rabbits

During the onset of heat stroke, rabbits displayed hyperthermia (42.8 degrees C), decreased arterial blood pressure, increased intracranial pressure, decreased cerebral perfusion pressure and increased interleukin-1 beta production (in both the hypothalamus and plasma), compared to those of normothermic, control rabbits. In addition, the heat-stroke animals which received an i.v. injection of interleukin 1-receptor antagonist (200 micrograms/kg) had a survival time (interval between onset of heat stroke and death) longer than that of the heat-stroke animals which received control-vehicle solution. The data indicate that interleukin-1 production plays a role in pathogenesis of heat stroke in rabbits.