[[Stressful increase in body temperature--hyperthermia or fever].

Psychological factors are recognized to influence immune responses and susceptibility to various disease processes. Exposure to psychological stress produces rise in body temperature in animals and human beings. Ther are considerable evidence that support the hypothesis that stress "hyperthermia" is actually a fever (i.e. an elevation in thermoregulatory set-point). The stress-induced rise in body temperature is mediated by endogenous pyrogens and prostaglandin E2 produced inside the blood-brain barrier. Moreover, it has been shown that beta-adrenoceptors in the central nervous system are involved in the psychological stress-induced elevation in body temperature. Since adrenalectomized animals develop larger stress-induced fevers, it appears that glucocorticoids may act in negative feedback on stress-induced fever.