INHIBITORY EFFECT OF ELECTROACUPUNCTURE ON FEVER INDUCED BY LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE, INTERLEUKIN-1βAND PROSTAGLANDIN E2 IN RATS

The effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on fever induced by either lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Interleukin-1β(IL-1β) or Prostaglandin E2(PGE2 ) was examined in SD rats in this study. EA stimulation (successive stimulation output; voltage intensity, 1 to 4 V; frequency, 1 Hz) was applied to bilateral equvalent Quchi (LI 11 ) acupoints for 30 min. Intraperitoneal injection of LPS (0111: B 4) at a single dose of 100 μg/kg caused high rectal temperature in rats, which was remarably sup pressed by EA either given simultaneously or 2 h after LPS injection. No difference in reduction of fever was found between two groups of rats treated by EA at different times. The rats that received adIninistration of hrIL-1β(2ng) or PGE2(3μg) into the prooptic area (POA) developed the acute and high fevers. The temperature in both cases was significantly decreased after EA stimulation. EA also partially inhibited the fever caused by intravenous injection of 0. 5μg/kg IL-1β. The they temperature increased within 1℃ in the rats that got intravenous injection of PGE2 (1. 5mg/kg), and EA did not present strong inhibitory effect on it. The present results demonstrate that EA possesses an antipyretic effect in rats and suggest that which may attribute to the suppression of the actions of IL-1β and/or PGE2 in the development of fever.