TNF alpha mimics the endocrine but not the thermoregulatory responses of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS): correlation with FOS-expression in the brain.

Thermoregulatory and plasma corticosterone responses to peripheral LPS and TNF alpha were compared and correlated with brain FOS protein expression. TNF alpha mimicked the corticosterone response evoked by LPS and the increase in FOS expression in the hypothalamic PVN. TNF alpha also mimicked LPS-activation of central noradrenergic and adrenergic neurones. TNF alpha did not induce a hypothermia which might reflect its failure to activate the vasopressin neurones of the BNST.