Corticosterone regulates behavioral effects of lipopolysaccharide and interleukin-1[beta] in mice. Goujon, Emmanuelle, Patricia Parnet, Arnaud Aubert, Glyn Goodall & Robert Dantzer. INRA-INSERM U394, rue C. Saint-Sa[diaeresis]ens, 33077 Bordeaux Cedex, France
APStracts 2:0020R, 1995.
The modulatory role of endogenous corticoids on the behavioral effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and recombinant human interleukin-1[beta] (IL-1) was studied in mice. Adrenalectomy enhanced the depression of social exploration induced by subcutaneous injection of 200 ng IL-1 or 2 [mu]g LPS. This effect was mimicked by an acute injection of the progesterone antagonist RU38486 (0.25-1 mg). Chronic replacement with a 15 mg corticosterone pellet abrogated the enhanced susceptibility of adrenalectomized animals to 200 ng IL-1 but had only partial protective effects on their response to 400 ng IL-1 and LPS. These results suggest that the pituitary-adrenal response to cytokines exerts an inhibitory feedback on the cell targets that mediate the behavioral effects of LPS and IL-1.

Received 8 August 1994; accepted in final form 20 January 1995.
APS Manuscript Number R438-4.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Regulatory Integrative Comp.
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 25 February 1995.