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Corticosterone modulates interleukin-evoked fever in the rat
B Schöbitz1, F Holsboer, W Sutanto
1Leiden-Amsterdam Institute for Drug Research, Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
Neuroendocrinology
|April 1, 1994
Summary
Endogenous corticoids play a dual role in fever responses. Corticosterone is essential for interleukin-induced fever but also limits its magnitude, suggesting a complex central regulatory mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Immunology
- Physiology
Background:
- Endogenous corticoids are crucial for physiological regulation.
- Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) are key mediators of fever.
- The precise role of corticoids in cytokine-induced fever remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of endogenous corticoids in fever induced by IL-1β and IL-6.
- To determine the central versus peripheral actions of these interleukins.
- To elucidate the modulatory effects of corticosterone on fever responses.
Main Methods:
- Adult male Wistar rats underwent adrenalectomy or sham surgery.
- Interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6) were administered intracerebroventricularly (icv) or intraperitoneally (ip).
- Corticosterone replacement therapy (chronic and acute) was administered to adrenalectomized rats.
Main Results:
- Adrenalectomy significantly reduced fever responses to icv IL-1β and IL-6, indicating a role for endogenous corticoids.
- IL-1β and IL-6 induced fever primarily through central mechanisms.
- Moderate corticosterone replacement restored IL-1β fever and partially restored IL-6 fever in adrenalectomized rats.
- Acute corticosterone treatment enhanced fever development compared to chronic treatment.
- In intact rats, corticosterone blocked IL-1β-induced fever, suggesting a dose-dependent, bimodal effect.
Conclusions:
- Endogenous corticosterone is permissive for central IL-1β and IL-6 fever responses in rats.
- Corticosterone exhibits a bimodal action on body temperature regulation during inflammation.
- The findings suggest corticosterone centrally facilitates fever while also limiting inflammatory mediator production, with higher doses potentially reducing fever magnitude.
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