Effect of desipramine on immunological parameters in mice, and their reversal by stress.
Immunomodulation of cell-mediated immunity is demonstrated in mice, after administration of desipramine, a noradrenaline-reuptake inhibitor, with or without exposing the mice later to an acute swimming stress. A single i.p. injection of 10 mg/kg desipramine to naive mice increased the relative weight of their spleens, the response of their splenocytes to the mitogen concavaline-A and their ability to produce IL-10, as compared to saline controls. Exposing the desipramine-treated mice to a swimming stress significantly reduced these parameters, as well as the levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, as compared to desipramine-treated mice. Stress alone reduced the weight of the spleen, and the ability of splenocytes to produce IFN-gamma. As desipramine and acute stress have stimulatory effect on the sympathetic system, it is suggested that a concomitant administration of the drug and a stressful event of these mice, change the splenocytes' micro-environment of sympathetic transmitters, and inhibit their function. These results may be partially due to impairment in the T-helper cell function by a beta-adrenoreceptor-dependent mechanism.
Kubera
M
M
Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow.
Holan
V
V
Basta-Kaim
A
A
Roman
A
A
Borycz
J
J
Shani
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology*; D013550:Swimming; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D016207:Cytokines; D008222:Lymphokines; D008934:Mitogens; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D003208:Concanavalin A; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D003891:Desipramine