Central administration of interleukin-1 beta reduces natural killer cell activity in non-pregnant rats, but not in pregnant rats.
To examine responses of natural killer cell activity (NKCA) to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) during pregnancy, we determined splenic NKCA as well as blood and brain indicators in virgin and pregnant rats (14 or 21 days gestation) with intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of IL-1 beta. NKCA was reduced and blood beta-endorphin (beta EP) was increased with the progress of pregnancy. I.c.v. administration of IL-1 beta reduced NKCA and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the median eminence (ME), and increased beta EP in virgin rats, but did not change any parameters in pregnant rats with 21 days gestation. These data suggest that the immunosuppressive effect of central administration of IL-1 beta is blocked by pregnancy. CRH in the ME and opioid system seem to be involved in the inhibitory effect of pregnancy on IL-1 beta-induced immunosuppression.
Nakamura
H
H
Department of Public Health, Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Japan. VZG02103@niftyserve.or.jp
Seto
T
T
Hatta
K
K
Matsuzaki
I
I
Nagase
H
H
Yoshida
M
M
Ogino
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects*; D008473:Median Eminence / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism
D007375:Interleukin-1; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone