Staphylococcal enterotoxin B induces fever, brain c-Fos expression, and serum corticosterone in rats.
The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) occupies a pivotal point within the network of brain nuclei coordinating critical host-defense responses. In mice, T cell-dependent immune stimuli, including the bacterial superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), can activate the PVH. To determine whether T cell-dependent immune stimuli activate the PVH in rats, we assessed plasma corticosterone (Cort) levels, fever responses, and c-Fos expression in the PVH in animals treated with intraperitoneal injections of SEB. In animals with previously implanted abdominal thermisters, intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg SEB resulted in a significant rise in body temperature, with a latency of 3.5-4 h. In separate animals, intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg SEB resulted in a significant elevation of plasma Cort and induced c-Fos expression in parvocellular neurons within the PVH. These results support the idea that T cell-dependent immune stimuli activate brain pathways mediating host-defense responses such as fever and neuroendocrine changes.
Goehler
L E
LE
Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA. goehler@virginia.edu
Gaykema
R P
RP
Hansen
M K
MK
Kleiner
J L
JL
Maier
S F
SF
Watkins
L R
LR
D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D018089:Superantigens / Q000494:pharmacology
D004768:Enterotoxins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D018089:Superantigens; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D003345:Corticosterone