Peripheral mononeuropathy affects hypothalamic and splenocyte beta-endorphin levels but not immune function in the rat.
Beta-endorphin and substance P levels were measured in the hypothalamus of rats 14 days after chronic constriction injury of right sciatic nerve. Furthermore, beta-endorphin concentrations in splenocytes, phytoemoagglutinin-induced proliferation of splenocytes, and natural killer activity were assessed. We observed a significant increase of beta-endorphin and substance P hypothalamic levels, and a significant decrease of beta-endorphin concentrations in the immune cells. In contrast, the peripheral mononeuropathy did not affect the immune function. This study presents a picture of central and peripheral peptide changes consistent with a painful condition, but different from what previously observed in rats which underwent peripheral nerve deafferentation or stressful conditions.
Bianchi
M
M
Department of Pharmacology, University of Milano, Italy. SACERDOT@IMIUCCA.CSI.UNIMI.IT
Sotgiu
M L
ML
Manfredi
B
B
Sacerdote
P
P
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D003250:Constriction; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism*
D001615:beta-Endorphin