Abstract: Central interleukin 1 plays important roles in mediating the neural, endocrine and behavioral responses to various stressors. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of adenosine in interleukin 1β induced behavioral depression in rats. Methods: Porsolt swim test was used for the measurement of behavioral depression after injection of interleukin 1β(8～32ng/kg, icv) and nonspecific adenosine receptor antagonist caffeine and specific adenosine receptor antagonist (A1 and A2) was used to determine the effect of adenosine in interleukin 1β induced behavioral depression. Results: Injection of interleukine 1β(8～32ng/kg, icv) induced increase of floating time in Porsolt swim test. Pretreatment with caffeine and A2a adenosine receptor antagonist blocked interleukine 1β induced increase of floating time. Conclusion: Intracerebroventricular injection of interleukin 1β induced behavioral depression in rats, which could be blocked by A2a adenosine receptor antagonist.

Key words: interleukin 1, behavioral depression, adenosine