SYSTEMIC ADMINISTRATION OF INTERLEUKIN-1 STIMULATES NOREPINEPHRINE RELEASE IN THE PARAVENTRICULAR NUCLEUS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of circulatin g interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) on the release of norepinephrine (NE) i n the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). After intraperitoneal administrat ion of IL-1beta, NE was measured by high performance liquid chromatogr aphy in the perfusate collected from the PVN of conscious, freely movi ng rats by the technique of push-pull perfusion. IL-1beta produced an increase in NE release. Both the strength and duration of NE release w ere dose-dependent. It is concluded that circulating IL-1beta activate s the noradrenergic innervation to the PVN and that this is part of th e mechanism by which it stimulates the release of the corticotropin-re leasing hormone (CRH) and produces its other neuroendocrine and centra l effects.