Central effect of taurine and its analogues on fever caused by intravenous leukocytic pyrogen in the rabbit.

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Abstract
Taurine infused i.c.v. [intracerebroventricular] after i.v. injection of leukocytic pyrogen (LP) in rabbit inhibited the initial rise in body temperature and prolonged fever when infusion was stopped. Similar infusion of taurine also inhibited the hyperthermic effect of i.c.v. PGE2 [prostaglandin E2] (0.5 .mu.g) but did not cause prolonged hyperthermia. I.c.v. administration of the taurine analoges hypotaurine and .beta.-alanine, compounds which compete with taurine for facilitated transport in CNS tissue, also inhibited the initial increase in body temperature and prolonged LP fever. Taurine probably prolongs LP fever by preferentially occupying a carrier system normally required for termination of the effects of endogenous pyrogens or related central mediators of fever. There was no evidence that taurine prolongs fever by blocking inactivation of central PGE2, a substance proposed previously to be a central mediator of fever.