Immobilization increases norepinephrine release and reduces natural
killer cytotoxicity in the conscious rat spleen.
Nobuakieeshimizu, Yasuoeekaizuka, Tetsuroeehori, and Hideyukieenakane.
Department of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Kanazawa
University, Kanazawa 920, Japan, Department of Physiology, Faculty of
Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812, Japan
APStracts 3:0058R, 1996.
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether immobilization
-stress would affect the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK)
cells through the changes in norepinephrine release in the spleen. An
in vivo microdialysis technique consisting of high-performance liquid
chromatography with electrochemical detection was used to examine
norepinephrine levels in the spleen of the conscious rat. The results
of the physiological and pharmacological manipulations indicated that
norepinephrine recovered in the dialysis solution was mainly derived
from the nerve terminals of the splenic sympathetic nerve.
Immobilization-stress rapidly increased norepinephrine levels to
817.4+/-181.7% of baseline in conjunction with the suppression of NK
cytotoxicity. Both the increased levels of norepinephrine and the
immunosuppression of NK cytotoxicity by immobilization-stress were
significantly attenuated after surgical denervation of the splenic
sympathetic nerve. The results suggest that immobilization-induced
suppression of splenic NK cytotoxicity is mediated predominantly
through enhanced activity of the splenic sympathetic nerve.
Received 29 July 1994; accepted in final form 3 February 1996.
APS Manuscript Number R414-4.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Regulatory Integrative
Comp. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 13 March 96