Abstract
The endogenous opioid system has been found to be involved in fever caused by pyrogens. Recent work in our laboratory has demonstrated that the μ-opioid receptor is involved in interleukin-1β (IL-1β)- and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fevers. In the present study, we have investigated the role of the μ-opioid receptor in the preoptic anterior hypothalamus (POAH) in fever induced by interleukin-6 (IL-6). Following stereotaxic implantation of a guide cannula into the POAH for microinjection, radio transmitters to monitor body temperature (Tb) continuously were inserted intraperitoneally. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were microinjected with 0.5 μg of the selective μ-opioid receptor antagonist, cyclic D-phe-Cys-Try-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (CTAP), into the POAH. Thirty min later, IL-6 (100 ng) was injected into the POAH. CTAP significantly blocked the IL-6 fever. CTAP alone had no effect on Tb during the 390-min recording period. These data indicate that μ-opioid receptors within the POAH mediate IL-6 fever and add to the increasing evidence that the opioid system is involved in the pathogenesis of fever in rats.
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