title: Modulation of T-suppressor cell activity by central nervous system catecholamine depletion.
abstract: This study extends our previous findings, which indicate that depletion of CNS catecholamines has a marked inhibitory effect on humoral immune responsiveness. These data show that depletion of CNS catecholamines by injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the cisterna magna in conjunction with immunization enhances the activity of a population of splenic T-suppressor cells as evidenced by the transfer of these cells to normal recipients. Increased suppressor cell activity does not result solely from 6-OHDA treatment, but rather requires concomitant immunization. Further characterization shows that these suppressor cells are not antigen specific. Hypophysectomy abrogates the effects of 6-OHDA injection suggesting that catecholamine depletion modulates immune function via the release of pituitary hormones. Thus, depletion of CNS catecholamines impairs immune responsiveness by inducing enhanced T-suppressor cell activity, providing additional evidence of the involvement of the CNS in regulation of immune responsiveness.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016627:Oxidopamine; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D016627:Oxidopamine