title: Cholinergic stimulation of immunoglobulin A secretion in rat intestine.
abstract: This study was undertaken to assess a possible role for cholinergic agents in the regulation of intestinal immunoglobulin A secretion. Intestinal loops, constructed in anesthetized rats, were perfused with phosphate buffered normal saline. Immunoglobulin A concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. When compared with the effect of normal saline in the same rats, intravenous injection of pilocarpine, 10 mg/kg, increased immunoglobulin A concentrations in perfusates from ileal loops (p less than 0.001). Qualitatively similar results were obtained with muscarine and bethanechol, from jejunal and colonic loops, and from unanesthetized rats. Immunoglobulin A concentrations increased four- to eightfold during maximal cholinergic stimulation. Atropine, 250 micrograms intravenously, completely blocked the effect of pilocarpine on immunoglobulin A secretion (p less than 0.005), and also inhibited basal intestinal immunoglobulin A secretion for 40 min after injection. As determined on 10%-40% sucrose density gradients, much of the immunoglobulin A secreted after cholinergic stimulation sedimented in the 11S range. These data indicate that intestinal secretion of immunoglobulin A is stimulated by the muscarinic effect of cholinergic agonists, and suggest that basal secretion of immunoglobulin A may be influenced by the parasympathetic nervous system.
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018723:Bethanechol; D001626:Bethanechol Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D003106:Colon / Q000276:immunology; D007082:Ileum / Q000276:immunology; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D010277:Parasympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D001626:Bethanechol Compounds; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D010277:Parasympathomimetics; D018723:Bethanechol; D010862:Pilocarpine; D001285:Atropine