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Phagocytic response in rats following chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine
P Derevenco1, C Marina, T Pavel
1Department of Physiology, Institute of Medical Research and Public Health, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Insights
Chemical sympathectomy in Wistar rats impairs neutrophil phagocytic response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This suggests the sympathetic system stimulates immune reactions, and reveals immunological sexual dimorphism.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The sympathetic nervous system plays a role in regulating immune responses.
- Previous research suggests a link between sympathetic activity and phagocytic function.
- Understanding the interaction between the nervous and immune systems is crucial for comprehending host defense.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of chemical sympathectomy on the phagocytic response of neutrophils.
- To determine if the sympathetic nervous system influences the immune response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
- To explore potential sex-based differences in immune responses following sympathectomy.
Main Methods:
- Wistar rats underwent chemical sympathectomy using 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) injections early in life.
- At maturity, rats were challenged with Escherichia coli (EC) lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
- Leukocyte and neutrophil counts, along with neutrophil phagocytic activity against EC, were measured at baseline and at 3 and 24 hours post-LPS injection.
Main Results:
- Neutrophil counts increased significantly in control rats 3 hours after LPS administration.
- In sympathectomized rats, the percentage of phagocytic active neutrophils (PA) did not increase post-LPS.
- The number of bacteria incorporated by neutrophils (IB) significantly decreased in sympathectomized female rats at 3 and 24 hours post-LPS, indicating impaired phagocytosis. Immunological sexual dimorphism was observed.
Conclusions:
- Chemical sympathectomy significantly depresses the phagocytic response to LPS in rats.
- These findings suggest a stimulatory role for the sympathetic nervous system in enhancing the phagocytic immune reaction.
- The study highlights the existence of immunological sexual dimorphism in response to LPS challenge after sympathectomy.
Abstract:
Wistar rats were injected i.p. at 2, 4 and 7 days after birth with 6-OHDA (50 mg/kg). At maturity the phagocytic response of neutrophils was elicited by Escherichia coli (EC) lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Before and at 3 and 24 hours after the injection of LPS (1 mg/kg i.v.) the leucocyte (L) and neutrophil (N) counts and the phagocytic activity of N in blood against EC have been tested. In controls (6 female and 7 male rats) the number of N increases significantly after 3 h. The L and N responses were similar in controls and in treated (SyX) animals. In controls the percentage of phagocytic active N(PA) and the number of bacteria incorporated by 100 n(IB) shows significant rises at 3 h. In the SyX groups (7 females and 7 males) PA does not increase; the IB decreases significantly in females at 3 and 24 h. In conclusion chemical sympathectomy depresses the PR to LPS in rats; this suggests a stimulatory action of the sympathetic system on the phagocytic immune reaction. An immunological sexual dimorphism exists.
