Central nitric oxide synthase inhibition restores behaviorally mediated lipopolysaccharide induced fever in near-term rats

Abstract

It has recently been established that the febrile response to bacterial endotoxin attenuated late in pregnancy is partially restored by central inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). To determine if this restoration of the febrile response also extends to warm-seeking behaviour, we used a thermocline to allow animals to select their preferred ambient temperature. Near-term pregnant (day 19-20) and aged matched non-pregnant rats were given an i.p. injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 50 μg/kg) and an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of an inhibitor of NOS, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate salt (L-NMMA, 100 μg) or vehicle. Core body temperature and self-selected ambient temperat..