INTERLEUKIN-1 INHIBITS STRESS-INDUCED GASTRIC-EROSION IN RATS

The effect of interleukin (IL)-1 on the occurrence of stress-induced gastric erosions was examined in rats. The intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of IL-1-beta significantly inhibited the occurrence of water-immersion restraint stress-induced gastric erosion at doses of 200 ng, 500 ng and 1-mu-g, whereas the intravenous (iv) administration of IL-1-beta altered the occurrence of gastric erosion only at a dose of 1-mu-g. The inhibitory effect of IL-1-alpha icv administered on the occurrence of gastric erosion was found only at a dose of 1-mu-g. The inhibitory effect of IL-1-beta icv administered on the occurrence of stress-induced gastric erosion was not influenced by icv administration of alpha-helical CRF(9-41), a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor antagonist. Indomethacin completely blocked the inhibitory action of IL-1-beta icv administered on stress-induced gastric erosion. It is concluded from these results that IL-1 acts mainly in the central nervous system to inhibit the occurrence of stress-induced gastric erosion and that the IL-1-beta-induced inhibition of gastric erosion is mediated by prostaglandin in a manner that is independent of brain CRF.