Cervical lymph cannulation to investigate the efflux and effects of intracerebroventricular cytokine infusions.
It is well documented that there is communication between the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and cervical lymphatics. Recently, it has been demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) introduced into the CSF appears in the cervical lymph. However, the functional significance of this is less clear. Here we describe a protocol to quantitate the efflux of TNF-alpha from the CSF into cervical lymph. In addition, we describe a methodology to examine the effects of an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of TNF-alpha on lymph volume, cellularity and cell phenotype. While TNF-alpha was recovered in the cervical lymph following infusion of 125-I labeled TNF-alpha, the dosage of TNF-alpha used in this study had no effect on cervical lymph flow, cellularity or cell subsets. This protocol can be used to study the efflux of i.c.v. injected macromolecules and their effects on lymphocytes in cervical lymph and the regional lymph nodes.
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.
T J
TJ
Seabrook
J B
JB
Dickstein
J B
JB
Hay
D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular / Q000379:methods*; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008196:Lymph / Q000378:metabolism*; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000502:physiology; D012756:Sheep; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha