Evidence for the involvement of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in fever genesis.

In rabbit cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during fever induced by endotoxins, myxoviruses, or endogenous pyrogen, concentrations of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and prostaglandin E (PGE) are about 2-fold higher in comparison to normal values. In endotoxin treated animals paracetamol reduced the fever reaction and both PGE and cyclic AMP levels. Administration of theophyllin together with endotoxin enhanced the fever reaction and cyclic AMP levels in CSF, but had no influence on stimulation of PGE synthesis. Following injection of PGE2 into the lateral cerebral ventricles increased cyclic AMP concentrations were found in CSF. The results suggest, that the pyrogenic effect of PGE is mediated by stimulation of cerebral cyclic AMP synthesis.