Effect of interleukin 1alpha 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 ngml(-1) interleukin 1alpha (IL-1alpha) 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 Nomega-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 stimulation. 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-1alpha 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.