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Abstract
To investigate the possible mediation by prostaglandins of changes in behaviour induced
by peripheral injection of interleukin-1 (IL-1), two types of behavioural tests were
chosen, social exploration in mice and schedule-controlled behaviour in rats. Mice
treated with 1 and 2.5 micrograms recombinant human IL-1 beta showed a time- and dose-dependent
decrease in exploration of a juvenile conspecific. This effect was completely blocked
by pretreatment with 10 mg/kg indomethacin or 10 mg/kg piroxicam, but not with 50
mg/kg aspirin. The disruption of operant responding induced by 5 micrograms IL-1 in
rats was also suppressed by pretreatment with 5 mg/kg indomethacin or 10 mg/kg piroxicam.
These results indicate that prostaglandins mediate the behavioural effects of peripherally
injected IL-1.