Differential dependence of ACTH secretion induced by various cytokines on the integrity of the paraventricular nucleus.

Effect of different cytokines, human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha and beta (IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) on adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secretion was compared in sham-operated rats and those with lesions of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. IL-1 alpha was less active than IL-1 beta in stimulating ACTH in sham-operated rats. Intravenous injection of IL-1 beta in sham-operated animals resulted in a rapid elevation of ACTH secretion. Five days after surgical lesion of the paraventricular nucleus, the main hypothalamic source of hypophysiotropic corticotropin-releasing factor-41, the response to IL-1 beta was attenuated but not abolished. This suggests involvement of extra-paraventricular releasing factors in mediation of ACTH-releasing activity of IL-1 beta, altered responsiveness of pituitary to CRFs, and/or direct action of IL-1 beta on the corticotrope cells. TNF resulted in a biphasic stimulation of ACTH concentration, with peaks at 15 min and 90 min. In paraventricular-lesioned, TNF injected rats both of these ACTH peaks disappeared, suggesting that CRFs from the paraventricular origin mediates ACTH-inducing activity of TNF. IL-6 elevated ACTH secretion much later than the other intravenously injected cytokines, the peak was at 1 h in sham-lesioned rats. Paraventricular lesion completely prevented the increase of ACTH plasma levels after IL-6 injection. These data suggest that: (1) Effect of TNF and IL-6 on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis is mediated through the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and (2) IL-1 beta is able to release ACTH even in the absence of hypothalamic drive.