Effect of dimethyl sulfoxide on endotoxin -induced fever in rabbits

AIM:To investigate the effect of dimethyl sulfoxide on endotoxin -induced fever in rabbits. METHODS:Test substances were administered intravenously into a marginal ear vein. Temperature responses were measured using rectal thermistor probes. RESULTS:Endotoxin (0.4 μg/kg) stimulated a biphasic rise in colonic temperature. Pretreatment with dimethyl sulfoxide significantly attenuated the biphasic febrile response to endotoxin (0.4 μg/kg) of conscious rabbits in a dose-dependent manner. Rabbits treated with dimethyl sulfoxide 10 min after injection of endotoxin developed fever, which was significantly milder compared with rabbits treated with an equal volume of normal saline. No significant differences were found between thermal response index of rabbits injected with dimethyl sulfoxide and those with normal saline. CONCLUSION:Dimethyl sulfoxide inhibit endotoxin-induced fever in rabbits.