EFFECTS OF FLURBIPROFEN ON RECOMBINANT HUMAN IL-1-ALPHA-INDUCED FEVERAND ASSOCIATED CLINICAL, HEMATOLOGICAL AND BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL-CHANGES IN THE DWARF GOAT

Flurbiprofen, a potent NSAID, was given as an intravenous infusion (I mg/kg) to dwarf goats. After drug administration, no significant chang es were observed in heart rate and rumen motility, whereas rectal temp erature increased slightly; mean plasma glucose and creatinine concent rations gradually increased during the observation period. Plasma iron concentration and the number of circulating lymphocytes were signific antly lower after flurbiprofen infusion. Intravenous injection of reco mbinant human interleukin - 1 alpha (r.HuIL-1alpha: 0.5mug/kg) caused shivering, fever, inhibition of rumen contractions, tachycardia, hypof erraemia, hypozincaemia, hyperglycaemia followed by hypoglycaemia, cha nges in plasma urea and creatinine values, lymphopaenia and neutropaen ia followed by neutrophylic leukocytosis. Pretreatment with flurbiprof en partly antagonized the febrile reactions to r.HuIL-1alpha. The r.Hu IL-1alpha- induced tachycardia and inhibition of rumen contractions we re only delayed. The drug prevented the initial hyperglycaemia but did not abolish the secondary hypoglycaemia. Furthermore, flurbiprofen de layed the decline in plasma zinc and iron concentrations, whereas plas ma creatinine values were significantly lower. Finally, after drug pre treatment the changes in circulating neutrophils were more pronounced. These data demonstrate that most of the haematological, blood biochem ical, and clinical effects of r.HuIL-1alpha cannot be blocked by flurb iprofen, suggesting that an increased synthesis of prostaglandins is n ot involved in these r.HuIL-1alpha-induced effects.