p38 MAPK mediates cardiovascular and behavioral responses induced by central IL-1 beta and footshock in conscious rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the roles of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) in the cardiovascular and behavioral responses induced by intracerebral ventricular injection (i.c.v.) of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) or footshock.


METHODS
We examined the effects of p38 MAPK on mean artery blood pressure (mABP), heart rate (HR), and motor activity (MA) during central administration of IL-1 beta, or footshock after i.c.v. SB203580 (a specific inhibitor of the p38 MAPK) with Cardiovascular and Behavior Telemetry System in conscious SD rats.


RESULTS
(1) IL-1 beta (i.c.v.) or footshock remarkably rise the mABP, and the maximal changes are (7.8+/-1.8) and (12.3+/-3.5) mmHg, respectively, which was abrogated by the pretreatment with p38 inhibitor SB203580 intracerebroventricularly. (2) Compared with icv saline group, the motor activity was significantly decreased in SB203580 group with maximal changes (-7.6+/-1.1) counts/min after footshock.


CONCLUSIONS
p38 MAPK plays an important role in the pressor response induced by central administration of IL-1 beta or footshock and change of motor activity after footshock in conscious rats.
Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
Rui-mao
RM
Zheng
Chang-jiang
CJ
Zou
Shi-gong
SG
Zhu
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008297:Male; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
D007093:Imidazoles; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011725:Pyridines; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580