pyrogen

[ pahy-ruh-juhn, -jen ]

noun

1. a substance, as a thermostable bacterial toxin, that produces a rise in temperature in a human or animal.

pyrogen

/ ˈpaɪrəʊˌdʒɛn /

noun

1. any of a group of substances that cause a rise in temperature in an animal body

pyrogen

/ pī′rə-jən /

1. A polypeptide that produces fever by causing metabolic changes in the hypothalamus. Pyrogens are either exogenous (produced by infectious agents) or endogenous (produced by cells in the body such as macrophages).

Word History and Origins

Origin of pyrogen¹

First recorded in 1855–60; pyro- + -gen

Example Sentences

Pyrogenet′ic, Pyrog′enous, producing fire: produced by fire; Pyrogen′ic, producing fever.

From Project Gutenberg