Systemic Lipopolysaccharide and Pokeweed Mitogen Increase Quinolinic Acid Content of Mouse Cerebral Cortex

Abstract

The effects of lipopolysaccharide and pokeweed mitogen on brain L-tryptophan and quinolinic acid (QUIN) concentrations were investigated in C57BL/6NCR mice. Twenty-four hours after an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (5 .mu.g from Salmonella abortus equi) or pokeweed mitogen (500 .mu.g), cortical QUIN concentrations were increased by 81 .+-. 6% and 182 .+-. 15%, respectively. Plasma QUIN was increased 175 .+-. 7% of control in pokeweed-mitogen treated mice only. Brain L-tryptophan concentrations were increased, plasma L-tryptophan concentrations were decreased. The consequences of increased QUIN concentrations during endotoxin and mitogen exposure remain to be determined.