Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in the brain of rats exposed to acute emotional stress: Effect of interleukin-1β

Acute emotional stress is shown to raise the level of malonic dialdehyde in the hypothalamus of August rats. After intraventricular administration of interleukin-1β, the malonic dialdehyde level and the activity of antioxidant enzymes tended to rise selectively in the hypothalamus (but not in the sensorimotor cortex) of August, Wistar, and WAG rats. In the presence of this interleukin, acute emotional stress did not cause increases in lipid peroxidation products in the hypothalamus of August rats.