Catecholamines modulate chicken immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G plaque-forming cells

Norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) function as chemical messengers in the central nervous and the endocrine systems of the chicken. The effects of in vivo and in vitro exposure of NE and E on IgM and IgG splenic plaque-forming cell (pfc) formation were determined to the antigen SRBC. Six-week-old Line UNH 105 New Hampshire chickens were injected i.v. with NE (500 micrograms/kg BW) or E (100 micrograms/kg BW) followed by 1 mL of 5% SRBC 30 min later. Five days after antigen injection, IgM and IgG pfc were assayed. Compared with controls, in vivo NE suppressed (P < .05) IgM and IgG pfc formation. In vitro NE treatment of splenic lymphocytes reduced (P < .05) IgM pfc but did not affect IgG pfc numbers. In vivo treatment with E increased (P < .05) IgM pfc whereas in vitro E exposure increased (P < .05) IgM pfc. Immunoglobulin G pfc were suppressed (P < .05) by both in vivo and in vitro E exposure. The presence of surface receptors for NE and E on splenic lymphocytes was determined using in vitro incubation with antagonists to alpha and beta receptors. These data suggest that there are alpha and beta receptor sites on lymphocytes for NE and E, and that these catecholamines have a regulatory role in plaque cell proliferation.