title: The effects of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) infusion following spinal cord transection in rats.
abstract: A laminectomy was performed at the T5-T6 vertebral level in adult, male, Sprague-Dawley rats and the spinal cord transected with a scalpel. A group of sham animals was subjected to the same surgery without the transection step. A group of unhandled control rats was also included. A subgroup of transected animals received a subcutaneous osmotic minipump that dispensed IL-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) at the transection site for 7 consecutive days. Another transected subgroup received a minipump that infused the vehicle only. IRAP-treated rats displayed a significant reduction in body temperature (p < 0.05) compared with vehicle-treated rats. The IRAP-treated rats were also less active when assessed for locomotor behavior using an HVS computerized tracking system (p < 0.01). IRAP treatment had no effect on serum corticosterone, beta-endorphin levels, Con A, PHA, or LPS-induced splenocyte mitogenesis when compared with vehicle-treated animals. However, half of the IRAP-treated animals exhibited a substantive reduction in the number of reactive astrocytes near the transection site, suggesting a possible effect of IRAP on astrocyte activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-1114, USA.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gelderd
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: O'Grady
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007796:Laminectomy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013696:Temperature; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D003345:Corticosterone