Effect of interleukin 1α and interleukin 2 over glucose metabolism in isolated uterus of restricted diet rats. Influence of NO and COX-2

A 25-day dietary restriction (50% of the normal diet) produce a fall in the production of ¹⁴CO₂ from ¹⁴C-glucose in rats isolated uteri. The addition of 10 or 20 ng ml⁻¹ interleukin 1α (IL-1α) or interleukin 2(IL-2) to the Krebs–Ringer bicarbonate solution medium stimulates glucose metabolism in uteri from underfed rats. Such concentrations are not effective in control rats.

The addition of Nω-nitro-l arginine methyl ester—an inhibitor of both the constitutive and inducible forms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)—and of aminoguadinine—a preferential inhibitor of the inducible form of NOS—block such estimulation.

In other experiments, the addition to the medium of arginine—a substrate for the formation of nitric oxide—increases interleukin stimulation of glucose metabolism, which is blocked by NOS inhibitor. At the same time, NS-398—a selective inhibitor of inducible cyclooxygenase (COX)—eliminates the interleukin metabolism stimulation. We conclude that IL-1α and IL-2 produce an increase of glucose metabolism in uteri isolated from underfed rats. Nitric oxide produced by the inducible form of NOS mediates the interleukins-induced glucose metabolism stimulation with the participation of inducible COX.