Studies on the pathogenesis of fever. VIII. Further observations on the role of endogenous pyrogen in endotoxin fever

J Exp Med. 1961 Nov 1;114(5):729-39. doi: 10.1084/jem.114.5.729.

Abstract

Rabbits made granulocytopenic with nitrogen mustard have been shown to generate serum endogenous pyrogen when given a fever-producing dose of bacterial endotoxin. This finding is in accord with the hypothesis that endogenous pyrogen plays a central role in the pathogenesis of endotoxin fever. The fact that leucopenic animals produce less serum-endogenous pyrogen than normal animals given the same dose of endotoxin has also been confirmed and suggests that polymorphonuclear leucocytes constitute a major source of the endogenous pyrogen which is demonstrable in the circulation during endotoxin fever.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antitoxins / pharmacology*
  • Endotoxins*
  • Fever*
  • Interleukin-1*
  • Leukocytes*
  • Pyrogens / blood*
  • Rabbits
  • Toxins, Biological / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antitoxins
  • Endotoxins
  • Interleukin-1
  • Pyrogens
  • Toxins, Biological
  • leukocyte endogenous mediator