CHANGES IN APNEA AND AUTORESUSCITATION IN PIGLETS AFTER INTRAVENOUS AND INTRATHECAL INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA INJECTION

Piglets were given IL-1 beta intravenously (Index I, n = 8) or intrath ecally (Index II, n = 9) prior to apnea to test the hypothesis that IL -1 beta may prolong periods of apnea during sleep and infection. Apnea varibles acid the quality of autoresuscitation were recorded and comp ared to an apnea control group (Ctr. I, n = 7, apnea without injection of IL-1 beta) and a procedure control group (Ctr. II, n = 6, apnea af ter intratecally injected sterile water). Hypoxanthine (Hx) and xanthi ne (X) were analyzed in plasma, CSF and vitreous humor. The duration o f apnea was significantly longer in the Index I - mean: 38, intraquart ile range: 27-52 sec and Index II-group 26 (24-36) sec than in the Ctr . I - 12 (10-13) sec (p<0.01) and the Ctr. II-group 14 (6-18) sec (p<0 .01). The number of respirations per 2 min following apnea in the Inde x I-group mean: 21, intraquartile range: 7-40 and was significantly le ss than in the Ctr. I-group 109 (39-150) (p < 0.01), while a similar t endency was found in the Index II-group 42 (27-55) (p = 0.06). In conc lusion: Intravenous and intrathecal injection of IL-1 beta prolong the duration of apnea and modifies autoresuscitation.