An animal model for the behavioral effects of interferon.
Interferon, which is produced during viral infections, has cognitive and neurological effects in humans. A dose of 1600 U/g of mouse interferon-alpha significantly depressed horizontal activity, head pokes into a food chamber, and food intake in mice 10 hr and 24 hr after injection. An 800 U/g dose had only slight effects on horizontal activity and food intake, whereas a 400 U/g dose had no effect. There was no evidence of sensitization to interferon when a second 400 U/g dose was given after the 1600 U/g dose. The results imply that mouse interferon-alpha can be used in mice as a model for studying the fatigue and anorexia produced by interferon.
University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver 80262.
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Segall
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D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*
D007370:Interferon Type I