The nucleus basalis is involved in brain modulation of the immune system in rats.
Male rats were subjected to bilateral or unilateral excitotoxic lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM). Three weeks after surgery, mitogen-induced lymphoproliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activity were determined in the spleen. T-cell mitogenesis and NK cell activity were strongly enhanced after bilateral lesions but were not affected after right or left unilateral lesions. B-cell mitogenesis and blood T-cell subset distribution remained unchanged after bilateral or unilateral lesions of the NBM. These results demonstrate that NBM cells are involved in the complex interrelations existing between the central nervous system and the immune system.
Cherkaoui
J
J
INSERM, Unité 259, Université de Bordeaux II, France.
Mayo
W
W
Neveu
P J
PJ
Kelley
K W
KW
Vitiello
S
S
Le Moal
M
M
Simon
H
H
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000502:physiology; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*