Reduction of excitation by interleukin-1β in rat neocortical slices visualized using infrareddarkfield videomicroscopy

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Abstract
The cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is thought to be critically involved in the neuroendocrine and behavioral changes which occur in response to systemic infection. In the present study, we have employed the novel technique of infrared-darkfield videomicroscopy to examine the effect of IL-1β on the intrinsic optical signal (IOS), an indicator of the spread of neuronal excitation and synaptic transmission in the mammalian central nervous system. Low doses of IL-1β delivered exogenously to rat neocortical slices produced a reduction of the area of the column-like IOS evoked by orthodromic stimulation. The effect of IL-1β was reversible on washout and not mimicked by heat-inactivated IL-1β. These results suggest a possible modulatory role of IL-1β on synaptic transmission in the rat neocortex which is probably mediated through an activation of GABAA receptors.