Relationship of trace metals to fever during infection: are prostaglandins involved?

Endogenous pyrogen/leukocyte endogenous mediator (EP/LEM) induces, in the host organism, a fever that is thought to be mediated to some extent via the production of prostaglandins. The role of prostaglandins in the EP/LEM-induced fall in plasma iron and zinc is less clear. To study this relationship, rabbits and rats were injected with an antipyretic dose of prostaglandin synthase inhibitors concurrent with heat-killed bacteria or endotoxin. These inhibitors, indomethacin and sodium salicylate, were successful in partially and totally blocking fever in rabbits and rats, respectively; however, they had no effect on the hypoferremia and hypozincemia of infection. We conclude that prostaglandins are probably not involved in the fall in plasma iron and zinc during acute bacterial infection. Further, since hypoferremia and hypozincemia occurred even though fever was blocked, the fall in trace metals due to infection is not dependent on the rise in both temperature.