Differential Fos expression induced by IL-1beta and IL-6 in rat hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
IL-1beta has been implicated in central nervous system effects, including activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Less is known concerning the role of IL-6 in brain. To compare and contrast IL-1beta and IL-6 effects on brain, rats were administered intraperitoneal injections of IL-1beta, IL-6 or control vehicle (3-8 microg/rat), perfused 150-180 min post-injection, and brains and pituitaries were processed for Fos immunolabeling. IL-1beta induced Fos expression in corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons of paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, and anterior pituitary gland. IL-6 also induced immunolabeled Fos in the anterior pituitary gland, however, it did not induce Fos expression in CRF neurons of PVN. Data suggest that IL-6 may directly activate the anterior pituitary gland, whereas IL-1beta may exert its effect on the pituitary directly and/or indirectly via activation of CRF neurons in the PVN.
Callahan
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Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY 14642, USA. call@medinfo.rochester.edu
Piekut
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D000818:Animals; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos