title: Dihydroergocryptine protects from acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the rat.
abstract: The effect of dihydroergocryptine, a natural alkaloid derivative which exhibits D2 dopaminomimetic properties, has been studied in Lewis female rats with experimentally induced allergic encephalomyelitis. A chronic treatment with dihydroergocryptine started two days before immunization, induced a dramatic reduction of prolactin levels accompanied by a marked amelioration of neurological signs. In addition, the proliferative activity of splenic lymphocytes induced by the mitogen Concanavalin-A (Con-A) was reduced in dihydroergocryptine-treated animals. It is suggested that this effect is related to the ability of dihydroergocryptine to lower prolactin concentrations or also, partially, to a neuroprotective action of this drug.
authors.affiliation: University of Pavia School of Dentistry, Italy.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Canonico
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sortino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Favit
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aleppo
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Scapagnini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004088:Dihydroergotoxine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
chemical_list: D004088:Dihydroergotoxine; D011388:Prolactin