Fever and sleep cycle impairment after streptococcal mucopeptide administration

Abstract

Mucopeptide, isolated from the cell wall of streptococcus, when injected into rats induces a dose-dependent hyperthermia. Simultaneously a profound disturbance of deep sleep occurs, which appears to be indirectly related to the magnitude of the fever. A monoamine oxidase inhibitor (pargyline) induces a hypothermia in control animals and reverses the fever caused by mucopeptide. Under the influence of pargyline the EEG patterns are changed to that of wakefulness, an effect lasting several hours. At the height of fever, two hr after mucopeptide administration, the turnover rate of hypothalmic 5-hydroxytryptamine is doubled. © 1972.