Staphylococcal enterotoxin B induces fever, brain c-Fos expression, and serum corticosterone in rats. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 280: R1434-R1439, 2001.-The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) occupies a pivotal point within the network of brain nuclei coordinating critical host-defense responses. In mice, T cell-dependent immune stimuli, including the bacterial superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), can activate the PVH. To determine whether T

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... ependent immune stimuli activate the PVH in rats, we assessed plasma corticosterone (Cort) levels, fever responses, and c-Fos expression in the PVH in animals treated with intraperitoneal injections of SEB. In animals with previously implanted abdominal thermisters, intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg SEB resulted in a significant rise in body temperature, with a latency of 3.5-4 h. In separate animals, intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg SEB resulted in a significant elevation of plasma Cort and induced c-Fos expression in parvocellular neurons within the PVH. These results support the idea that T cell-dependent immune stimuli activate brain pathways mediating host-defense responses such as fever and neuroendocrine changes.