Vasopressin functions as an endogenous antipyretic in the newborn.
These experiments sought to determine the role of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the inability of newborns to produce a fever. Our data demonstrate that the AVP analog, [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylene propionic acid)-2-(O-methyl) tyrosine]arginine vasopressin (M-AVP), administered centrally to adult rats, prevented the antipyretic action of centrally injected AVP. Behaviorally thermoregulating 3-day-old rat pups failed to respond to endoxin with a fever, similar to neonates of other species, but when central AVP antipyretic receptors were blocked by pretreatment with M-AVP, the pups were able to raise their body temperature to febrile levels. The antipyretic drug, indomethacin, prevented these fevers. We conclude that endogenous AVP is a physiologically important antipyretic substance in the brain of the newborn rat.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004731:Endotoxins; D005334:Fever / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004731:Endotoxins; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; C025043:vasopressin, 1-(1-mercaptocyclohexaneacetic acid)-2-(O- methyl-L-tyrosine)-8-L-arginine-; D007213:Indomethacin