Interleukin-1β production during the onset of heat stroke in rabbits

Abstract During the onset of heat stroke, rabbits displayed hyperthermia (42.8 °C), decreased arterial blood pressure, increased intracranial pressure, decreased cerebral perfusion pressure and increased interleukin-1β production (in both the hypothalamus and plasma), compared to those of normothermic, control rabbits. In addition, the heat-stroke animals which received an i.v. injection of interleukin 1-receptor antagonist (200 μg/kg) had a survival time (interval between onset of heat stroke and death) longer than that of the heat-stroke animals which received control-vehicle solution. The data indicate that interleukin-1 production plays a role in pathogenesis of heat stroke in rabbits.