Chronic indomethacin administration blocks increased body temperature after burn injury in rats.
This study investigates the hypothesis that continuous administration of indomethacin (a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor) will chronically reduce body temperature (TB) in burned rats (i.e., modulate "true" fever). Male Sprague-Dawley rats had radio transmitters and osmotic pumps (containing indomethacin) placed in the peritoneal cavity, and 7 days later large full-thickness scald burns were produced. Activity and TB were continually recorded through the 14th postburn day (PBD). There were 4 experimental groups: burn + indomethacin (B-In), n = 9; burn + polyethylene glycol (B-Peg), n = 6; control + indomethacin (C-In), n = 9; and control + polyethylene glycol (C-Peg), n = 6. From PBD 5 through PBD 10, the B-Peg group had consistently and significantly higher TB during light hours than the B-In, C-In, and C-Peg groups. From PBD 7 through PBD 12, the B-In group had an average TB during light hours significantly lower or not different than the C-In and C-Peg groups. These results support the hypothesis that in this burned-rat model chronically increased TB during the light hours may be "fever" (rather than hyperthermia) and that the final effector link could be a prostanoid because changes in activity do not explain the changes in body temperature.
Caldwell
F T
FT
Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Campus, Little Rock 72205, USA.
Graves
D B
DB
Wallace
B H
BH
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects*; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005334:Fever / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012016:Reference Values; D012984:Software; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D007213:Indomethacin