Interleukin-1 inhibits stress-induced gastric erosion in rats

Abstract

The effect of interleukin (IL)-1 on the occurence of stress-induced gastric erosions was examined in rats. The intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of IL-1β significantly inhibited the occurence of water-immersion restraint stress-induced gastric erosion at doses of 200 ng, 500 ng and 1 μg, whereas the intravenous (iv) administration of IL-1β altered the occurence of gastric erosion only at a dose of 1 μg. The inhibitory effect of IL-1α icv administered on the occurence of gastric erosion was found only at a dose of 1 μg. The inhibitory effect of IL-1β icv administered on the occurence of stress-induced gastric erosion was not influenced by icv administration of α-helical CRF(9–41), a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor antagonist. Indomethacin completely blocked the inhibitory action of IL-1β icv administered on stress-induced gastric erosion. It is concluded from these results that IL-1 acts mainly in the central nervous system to inhibit the occurence of stress-induced gastric erosion and that the IL-1β-induced inhibition of gastric erosion is mediated by prostaglandin in a manner that is independent of brain CRF.