Abstract
Intravenous (i.v) injection of human recombinant interleukin-1α (IL-1α) or interleukin-1β (IL-1β) produced significant increases in the deep body temperature and in the plasma concentration of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in rats.
In the present study, it was investigated whether intrahypothalamic prostaglandins (PGs) are involved in the development of the ACTH response which is induced by IL-1's. The pre-treatment with a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, inhibited completely the febrile responses and attenuated the increases in the plasma concentrations of ACTH induced by the i.v injection of IL-1α or IL-1β, indicating that the enhancement of plasma levels of ACTH induced by the i.v injection of IL-1's is processed through the action of prostaglandins. Intrapreoptic injection of PGE2 produced a monophasic fever with a rapid onset. Moreover, intrapreoptic injection of PGE2 made significant increases in the plasma concentration of ACTH 30 min after injection.
These results suggest that intrapreoptic PGE plays an important role in the ACTH response by inducing the release of corticotropin releasing factor.
