Interleukin-1 Pretreatment Protects against Endotoxin-Induced Hypotension in Rabbits: Association with Decreased Tumor Necrosis Factor Levels

Rabbits were infused with either low-dose recombinant human interleukin (IL)-1β or vehicle 16 h prior to receiving lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In controls pretreated with vehicle, mean arterial pressure decreased to 68% of the baseline value by 90 min after LPS infusion and remained low for the duration of the study period. In IL-1-pretreated animals, a similar decrease in mean arterial pressure to 69% was observed at 60 min but returned to 90% of baseline after 180 min (P<.05)