EFFECT OF INDOMETHACIN ON LPS-INDUCED FEVER AND ON HYPERTHERMIA-INDUCED BY PHYSICAL RESTRAINT IN THE SILVER FOX (VULPES-VULPES)

1. The effects of indomethacin on LPS-induced fever, and on hypertherm ia induced by physical restraint, were investigated in the silver fox (Vulpes vulpes).2. Base levels of deep body temperature (T-b) in undis turbed silver foxes measured with surgically implanted transmitters wa s 38.6 degrees C (+/-0.1). 3. Rectal temperature (T-re) five hours aft er treatment with LPS was 40.1 degrees C (+/-0.1), indicating a febril e response. 4. T-re in all foxes (LPS + indomethacin: 39.5 degrees C /- 0.1; indomethacin + vehicle: 39.2 degrees C +/- 0.1, or vehicle alo ne: 39.4 degrees C +/- 0.1) was elevated compared with base levels of T-b. However, T-re was within the range of T-b in handled or physicall y restrained foxes (39.4 degrees C +/- 0.1 and 39.5 degrees C +/- 0.1, respectively), indicating that handling and restraint evoked a stress -induced hyperthermia (SIH). 5. T-re in foxes treated with LPS was sig nificantly reduced when they were pretreated with indomethacin (39.5 d egrees C +/- 0.1), and was within the range of T-re of the controls, i ndicating an antipyretic effect of indomethacin. 6. Indomethacin did n ot significantly attenuate the magnitude of SIH, indicating that SIH m ay not, or to a minor extent, be mediated by prostaglandins in silver foxes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.