Effect of Murine Recombinant Interleukin-1 on Brain Oedema in the Rat

Summary

We investigated the effects of murine recombinant interleukin-1⌣(rIL-1, Du Pont) in vivo in the normal rat brain and here report both local and systemic effects of centrally administered rIL-1. Normal rats were given single or multiple atraumatic doses of either rIL1 or and equal volume (5 µl) of vehicle for control comparison. All dosages of intraparenchymal rIL-1 produced a uniform a hyperthermic response and concomitant lethargy. There was a related anorexia beyond fever duration. Histologic examination of intraparenchymal injection tracts revealed fibrillary whorls of oedema and a cellular infiltrate surrounding the rIL-1 tract, while similar changes were less prominent in control injection tracts. Repeated high doses of rIL-1 produced significantly higher concentrations of brain water as measured by the gravimetric technique. We conclude that rIL-1 is not only a potent chemoattractant, but is also an edigematic agent when adminstered in high doses.

This work was supported in part by The Brain Tumor Research Fund, with additional facilities and support provided by the Richard Roland Reynolds Neurosurgical Research Laboratories.