Inhibition, by trichothecene antibiotics, of brain protein synthesis and fever in rabbits.

Abstract
To test the hypothesis that brain protein synthesis is necessary for fever, 3 structurally similar trichothecene antibiotics were injected into the cerebral ventricles of rabbits. They were 3,15-diacetoxy-12-hydroxytrichothec-9-ene (DAHT), 3,15-dideacetyl-calonectrin (DDAC) and T-2 toxin. Their actions on hypothalamic incorporation of [14C]leucine and fever were compared. DDAC (60 .mu.g) and T-2 toxin (10 .mu.g) strongly inhibited leucine incorporation and fever. DAHT (60 .mu.g) did not diminish fever and had a smaller effect upon leucine incorporation. The findings strengthen considerably earlier suggestions that brain protein synthesis is an essential step in pyrogenesis.