Effect of hemorrhage on fever: the putative role of vasopressin

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Abstract
The effects of hemorrhage on the febrile response of the sheep was examined because hemorrhage is a potent stimulant for arginine vasopressin (AVP) release into CSF and blood. Removal of 20% of the estimated blood volume of the conscious sheep led to small physiological changes and significantly decreased fevers in response to bacterial endotoxin. Mean arterial blood pressure decreased in hemorrhaged febrile sheep to a significantly greater extent than in nonhemorrhaged febrile sheep. AVP levels were considerably greater in the blood of hemorrhaged febrile sheep than in nonhemorrhaged febrile sheep, and the concentrations correlated with the magnitude of the decrease in fever. Sheep hemorrhaged in the cold had changes in body temperature similar to control sheep. AVP may be an antipyretic neuromodulator.