AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 244, Issue 3 368-R373, Copyright © 1983 by American Physiological Society
Relationship of trace metals to fever during infection: are prostaglandins involved?
R. J. Tocco, L. L. Kahn, M. J. Kluger and A. J. Vander
Endogenous pyrogen/leukocyte endogenous mediator (EP/LEM) induces, in the
host organism, a fever that is thought to be mediated to some extent via
the production of prostaglandins. The role of prostaglandins in the
EP/LEM-induced fall in plasma iron and zinc is less clear. To study this
relationship, rabbits and rats were injected with an antipyretic dose of
prostaglandin synthase inhibitors concurrent with heat-killed bacteria or
endotoxin. These inhibitors, indomethacin and sodium salicylate, were
successful in partially and totally blocking fever in rabbits and rats,
respectively; however, they had no effect on the hypoferremia and
hypozincemia of infection. We conclude that prostaglandins are probably not
involved in the fall in plasma iron and zinc during acute bacterial
infection. Further, since hypoferremia and hypozincemia occurred even
though fever was blocked, the fall in trace metals due to infection is not
dependent on the rise in both temperature.
