FEVER AND METABOLIC-RATE IN THE TOAD BUFO-MARINUS

Toads injected with the pyrogen LPS had a higher metabolic rate than c ontrol toads injected with saline if the toads were held at the febril e temperature of 32 degrees C, but not if they were held at the normot hermic temperature of 25 degrees C. 2. We suggest that the elevated me tabolic rate of febrile toads reflects the cost of the stimulation of the immune system. 3. We discuss the evolutionary implications of thes e data, and suggest that the febrile response of vertebrate ectotherms and endotherms is homologous. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ ts reserved.