Naltrexone administration attenuates surgery-induced immune alterations in rats.
Surgery is a commonly performed procedure which produces substantial alterations in immune function in both humans and animals. To better understand the mechanism of surgery-induced immunomodulation, the present study investigated the effect of the opioid antagonist naltrexone on surgery-induced immune alterations in rats. Based on previous investigations in our laboratory, rats underwent a 6-cm laparotomy with no internal manipulation and immunological assessments were completed 24 h following the surgical procedure. Naltrexone was administered at the time of surgery and every 4 h thereafter until immune assessment. Results showed that naltrexone attenuated the surgery-induced decrease in natural killer cell cytotoxicity, B-cell proliferation, T-cell proliferation, and production of the cytokine IFN-gamma. These results are among the first to show that pharmacological antagonism of opioid receptors can prevent deleterious immune changes in the postoperative state, suggesting a detrimental role of the endogenous opioids in surgical procedures.
Nelson
C J
CJ
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. cjnelson@isis.unc.edu
Carrigan
K A
KA
Lysle
D T
DT
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D018089:Superantigens; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal; D003208:Concanavalin A; D009271:Naltrexone; D007371:Interferon-gamma