Abstract: | The ability of the brain serotonergic system to mediate the effects of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was investigated. Intracerebroventricular administration of IL-1β induced a significant pyrogenic reaction, depression in social behaviour, loss of body weight and reduced food intake in rats. Pre-treatment with p-chlorphenylalanine, an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis, blocked the IL-1β-induced decrease in food intake and loss of body weight, but failed to alter the temperature increase and the decrease in communicative activity. |