Interleukin-1 induces c-Fos immunoreactivity in primary afferent neurons of the vagus nerve.
Peripheral administration of bacterial endotoxin, an immune stimulant, induces evidence of activation in vagal primary afferent neurons. To determine whether interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) is part of the molecular pathway leading to this activation, we assessed the expression of the neuronal activation marker c-Fos in vagal primary afferent neurons after intraperitoneal injections of IL-1beta (2 microg/kg). IL-1beta, but not vehicle, induced c-Fos expression, demonstrating that IL-1beta is likely an important signal from the immune system to the vagus nerve, and thus the brain.
Goehler
L E
LE
Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0345, USA. goehler@psych.colorado.edu
Gaykema
R P
RP
Hammack
S E
SE
Maier
S F
SF
Watkins
L R
LR
D000818:Animals; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009620:Nodose Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D007375:Interleukin-1; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos