cosyntropin and Fever

alpha-MSH within the septal region of the brain has been implicated in fever control; this peptide and ACTH (1-24), which contains the alpha-MSH amino acid sequence, reduce fever when given intracerebroventricularly (ICV) or peripherally. These peptides also cause hypothermia when given in doses larger than those required to reduce fever. Both peptides occur naturally within the preoptic PO region of the brain, the CNS locus of primary temperature control. alpha-MSH (350 ng) injected bilaterally into the PO region via chronic cannulas reduced fever caused in six rabbits by IV injection of IL-1 (interleukin 1, endogenous or leukocyte pyrogen) but had no effect in afebrile animals. A larger dose (1.5 micrograms) not only reduced fever but caused hypothermia in 12 rabbits. In separate experiments PO injections of ACTH (1-24) (1 microgram) reduced normal temperature. In the same six rabbits alpha-MSH (1 microgram) caused slightly smaller hypothermia. alpha-MSH (1.5 micrograms) also had no effect in 8 afebrile rabbits when injected into the septum. The primary conclusion is that alpha-MSH receptors within the PO region can contribute to both the antipyretic and hypothermic actions that are observed after ICV and peripheral administration of the peptide.

Topics: Animals; Body Temperature Regulation; Cosyntropin; Fever; Hypothermia; Male; Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; Microinjections; Preoptic Area; Rabbits; Time Factors

Central administration of ACTH (1-24) reduces fever in normal rabbits in doses that have no effect on afebrile body temperature. Previous experimental and clinical reports indicate that peripheral administration of both ACTH and corticosteroids reduces fever, and since central injection of corticosteroids can also lower fever it might be that the antipyretic effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) ACTH (1-24) is due to adrenal stimulation. To learn whether this endogenous central peptide can produce antipyresis independently, ACTH (1-24) was injected ICV in bilaterally adrenalectomized (ADX) rabbits made febrile by IV injections of leukocytic pyrogen (LP). ACTH (250 ng) given ICV reduced fever in these animals and had a slight hypothermic effect when given to the same rabbits when they were afebrile. Doses of 25-75 ng reduced fever without influencing normal body temperature. Intravenous injections of ACTH (2.5 micrograms) also lowered fever caused by IV LP in ADX rabbits. The present findings raise the possibility that release of endogenous central ACTH, and perhaps entry into the brain of circulating ACTH, the release of which is known to increase in fever, limits the magnitude of the febrile response by influencing central temperature controls.

Topics: Adrenalectomy; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Cosyntropin; Fever; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Intraventricular; Interleukin-1; Kinetics; Male; Proteins; Rabbits