DIFFERENT EFFECTS OF INTERLEUKIN-1 ON REACTIVITY OF ARTERIAL VESSELS ISOLATED FROM VARIOUS VASCULAR BEDS IN THE RABBIT

During septic shock, arterial smooth muscle is thought to be hyporeact ive to vasoconstrictors. This hyporeactivity, however, seems to be dif ferent from one vascular bed to another. Interleukin-1 (IL-1), which i s released during septic shock, might play a role in the different reg ional vascular responses to norepinephrine. Thus, the aim of the prese nt study was to examine in vitro the effect of IL-1 on the response to norepinephrine of arteries isolated from different territories in the rabbit. Three types of responses were identified: IL-1 decreased NE-i nduced contraction by 54% in aorta, 42% in carotid artery, 54% in pulm onary artery, and 18% in renal artery; and IL-1 was devoid of signific ant effect in hepatic and mesenteric arteries: and IL-1 increased NE-i nduced contraction by 25% in femoral arteries. In conclusion, IL-1 mig ht contribute to the regional blood flow abnormalities during septic s hock.