Effect of brucine on mouse nonspecific immune responses.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of brucine (Bru) i.p. at analgesic doses on the nonspecific immune responses in normal and cyclophosphamide (Cyc)-treated mice.


METHODS
The clearance of charcoal particles, the immune organ weights, the white blood cell counts in peripheral blood, the phagocytosis to neutral red (NR) of PMO and its IL-1 production in vitro were tested.


RESULTS
In normal mice, Bru slightly enhanced the clearance of charcoal particles, the phagocytosis of PMO, IL-1 production, the immune organ weights and the WBC counts (P > 0.05), whereas in Cyc-induced subnormal immunity model mice, Bru greatly enhanced these nonspecific immune responses (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The effects of Bru were most marked i.p. at 10 mg.kg-1 in vivo or 0.1-10 mg.L-1 in vitro.


CONCLUSIONS
Bru i.p. at an analgesic dosage has dose- and function-dependent immunoregulatory effects.
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002606:Charcoal / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005260:Female; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013331:Strychnine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology