Inhibition, by trichothecene antibiotics, of brain protein synthesis and fever in rabbits.

1. To test further the hypothesis that brain protein synthesis is necessary for fever, three structurally similar trichothecene antibiotics were injected into the cerebral ventricles of rabbits. They were 3,15-diacetoxy-12-hydroxytrichothec-9-ene (DAHT), 3,15-didesacetyl-calonectrin (DDAC) and T-2 toxin. Their actions on hypothalamic incorporation of [14C]leucine and fever were compared. 2. DDAC (60 micrograms) and T-2 toxin (10 micrograms) strongly inhibited leucine incorporation and fever. DAHT (60 micrograms) did not diminish fever and had a smaller effect upon leucine incorporation. 3. The findings strengthen considerably earlier suggestions that brain protein synthesis is an essential step in pyrogenesis.