title: Effects of 6-hydroxydopamine on the development of the immune system in chickens.
abstract: It has been suggested that the sympathetic nervous system communicates with lymphocytes expressing cell surface receptors for neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine (NE), on the basis of the finding that neurotransmitters modify immune responses in mammalian species. We confirmed that chicken lymphocytes in the brusa of Fabricius, thymus and spleen expressed beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) mRNA from embryonic day (E) 10 and that intracellular cAMP level was elevated by NE, suggesting that lymphocytes express functional beta-AR on their surface at an early embryonal stage. To clarify whether the nervous system is involved in the development of the immune system, the effects of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), one of sympathectomizing agents, on chicken lymphocytes was investigated. A single injection of 6-OHDA at a dose of 400 microg into a chicken embryo was carried out at E7 or 14 (as referred to E7 group and E14 group, respectively). NE level and the relative proportion of Bu-1a(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells in the spleen of 3-week-old chickens were not altered by 6-OHDA treatment. However, the proliferative responses and expression of IL-2 mRNA in spleen cells cultured with pokeweed mitogen were reduced in E7 group compared with those of control. Furthermore, in CD8(+) spleen cells of E14 group of 3-week-old chickens, the expression of beta-AR mRNA and the relative increase of intracellular cAMP stimulated with NE were significantly decreased. These results suggest that the sympathetic nervous system affects the development of the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Kawaguchi, Saituma, Japan.
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motobu
authors.forename: Moshira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Abasy
authors.forename: Ki-Jeong
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vainio
authors.forename: Paavo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toivanen
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirota
mesh_terms: D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology / Q000294:innervation; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002642:Chick Embryo; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000294:innervation; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000235:genetics; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology / Q000294:innervation; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology / Q000294:innervation
chemical_list: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D016627:Oxidopamine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine