Pr. Ling et al., METABOLIC CHANGES IN RATS DURING A CONTINUOUS-INFUSION OF RECOMBINANTINTERLEUKIN-1, American journal of physiology: endocrinology and metabolism, 33(2), 1996, pp. 305-312
The effects of recombinant interleukin-l (IL-1), given as a continuous
infusion for 6 days, on host responses were determined in rats. The d
evelopment of fever, change in food intake and body weight, and key co
mponents of the acute-phase response in energy and protein metabolism
were assessed. The effects of IL-1 were compared with those observed i
n a matched pair-fed group (semistarved), to distinguish the contribut
ion from anorexia, and in a group that received IL-1 for 4 h acutely.
IL-1 significantly increased core temperature, plasma levels of IL-6,
and acute-phase protein production and decreased food intake and the c
irculating zinc level. The catabolic effects of IL-1 on nitrogen loss
and muscle protein breakdown were independent of, and additive to thos
e from malnutrition. The changes in energy expenditure, cumulative uri
nary nitrogen, and hydroxyproline excretion in the chronic IL-1 group
were increased over semistarved animals. Finally, changes in muscle pr
otein kinetics were only seen with chronic IL-1 infusion, and the chan
ges in acute-phase protein were greater.