Possible Involvement of Prostaglandins in Increases in Rat Plasma Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Corticosterone Levels Induced by Radiation and Interleukin-1{alpha} Alone or Combined
*Behavioral Sciences Department, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute Bethesda, Maryland 20889-5603
Section Neurochemistry, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Bethesda, Maryland 20892-5145
Received February 8, 1994;
accepted September 28, 1994
Abstract:
Exposing rats to 110 Gy of ionizing radiation increasedplasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticoste-rone(CORT) levels. In both irradiated and nonirradiated rats, recombinanthuman interleukin-1 (rhIL-1 1 hr before radiation/sham exposure)enhanced plasma ACTH and CORT levels. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenaseinhibitor, attenuated plasma ACTH and CORT levels induced byradiation. Indomethacin also attenuated ACTH and CORT levelsinduced by radiation and interleukin-1 alone or combined. Theseresults suggest that prostaglandins are involved in the increasein plasma ACTH and CORT levels induced by radiation and rhIL-1alone or combined.