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Naltrexone administration attenuates surgery-induced immune alterations in rats
C J Nelson1, K A Carrigan, D T Lysle
1Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. cjnelson@isis.unc.edu
The Journal of Surgical Research
|December 6, 2000
Summary
Opioid antagonism with naltrexone can prevent surgery-induced immune suppression. This study shows naltrexone preserves natural killer cell activity and lymphocyte proliferation after laparotomy in rats.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Surgical Research
Background:
- Surgery significantly alters immune function in humans and animals.
- Endogenous opioids are implicated in modulating immune responses during surgical stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of the opioid antagonist naltrexone on surgery-induced immune alterations in rats.
- To elucidate the role of opioid receptors in postoperative immunomodulation.
Main Methods:
- Rats underwent a 6-cm laparotomy.
- Naltrexone was administered perioperatively and every 4 hours post-surgery.
- Immunological assessments, including natural killer cell cytotoxicity, B-cell and T-cell proliferation, and IFN-gamma production, were performed 24 hours post-surgery.
Main Results:
- Naltrexone administration attenuated the surgery-induced decrease in natural killer cell cytotoxicity.
- Naltrexone prevented the reduction in B-cell and T-cell proliferation observed after surgery.
- Production of the cytokine IFN-gamma was preserved in naltrexone-treated rats.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacological antagonism of opioid receptors can prevent detrimental immune changes following surgery.
- Endogenous opioids play a significant role in surgical stress-induced immunosuppression.
- Naltrexone shows potential as an adjunct therapy to mitigate postoperative immune dysfunction.
