Central and peripheral concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in Chinese Meishan pigs stimulated with lipopolysaccharide.
The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the central nervous system and the effects of lipopolysaccharide on central and peripheral concentrations of TNF-alpha, behavioral conditions (standing or lying), elimination scores (defecation or urination), rectal temperature, and food intake (as-fed basis) in Chinese Meishan pigs. Intravenous injections of lipopolysaccharide resulted in increased (P < 0.05) plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha and cortisol. Although urination was not affected by the administration of lipopolysaccharide, defecation was stimulated (P < 0.05). Lipopolysaccharide increased (P < 0.05) rectal temperature and standing rate, and inhibited (P < 0.05) food intake in pigs. To determine whether TNF-alpha is present in the porcine central nervous system as well as in peripheral blood, TNF-alpha and its specific transcripts in brain tissues (hypothalamus, amygdala, or hippocampus) and the pituitary were determined. The abundance of TNF-alpha messenger RNA and immunoreactive TNF-alpha were observed in all tissues, and the concentrations of TNF-alpha were increased (P < 0.05) by the intramuscular injection of lipopolysaccharide. These results suggest that TNF-alpha is present in the central nervous system, and plays some roles in its biological regulation in Chinese Meishan pigs.
Sakumoto
R
R
Department of Physiology and Genetic Regulation, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Ibaraki 305-8602, Japan. sakumoto@affrc.go.jp
Kasuya
E
E
Komatsu
T
T
Akita
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D011187:Posture; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D006854:Hydrocortisone