title: Effects of testosterone on fever and vasopressin mRNA in wether sheep given endotoxin.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of testosterone on the febrile response of castrated rams to immunological challenge. Core temperature was recorded by radiotelemetry in wethers (n = 6) injected with lipopolysaccharide endotoxin or saline before and after androgen treatment. The number of cells expressing vasopressin mRNA in the brain region implicated in the anti-pyretic response, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, was determined by in situ hybridisation histochemistry. Endotoxin, but not androgen, increased vasopressin message (P < 0.05), and androgen also did not alter basal or febrile temperatures. Hence, these preliminary findings question whether the androgen-dependent anti-pyretic mechanism described in the male rat is of physiological significance in the ram.
authors.affiliation: MAFF Welfare and Behaviour Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology, Babraham Institute, Cambridge.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Parrott
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Vellucci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000662:veterinary; D007267:Injections / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014667:Vasopressins; D013739:Testosterone