Central opiate modulation of peripheral IL-6 in rats

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Abstract
THE effect of opiate agonists and antagonists on the induction of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), an inflammatory cytokine that plays a major role in the acute phase response, was studied. Morphine (10 μg, i.c.v. or 15 mg kg−1, i.p.), β-endorphin (0.5 or 5 μg, i.c.v.) and etorphin (10 mg kg−1, i.p.) induced IL-6. Moreover, morphine potentiated the IL-6 response induced by IL-1β (400 ng, i.p. or i.c.v.). When injected intraperitoneally, the opiate antagonist naloxone hydrochloride, antagonized the IL-6 response induced by either i.c.v. or i.p. IL-1β. This effect was not seen with naloxone methiodide, which does not cross the blood-brain barrier. The data show that central opiates are effective modulators of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6.

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