The change in ventilatory response on the hypercapnia during exogenous increase in the cerebral level of pro-inflammatory cytokin IL-1

In experiments on anesthetized tracheostomized rats the influence of the main pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) on the ventilatory hypercapnic response was investigated. During the hypercapnic rebreathing experiments it was obtained that the exogenous elevation of IL-1β level in the cerebrospinal fluid causes a decrease in sensitivity to hypercapnia: IL-1β weakens the ventilatory, tidal volume and mean inspiratory flow responses to carbon dioxide. Intravenous administration of IL-1β did not cause any changes in hypercapnic ventilatory response. The data obtained suggest participation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in mechanisms of central breathing control and central chemoreception.