Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor regulates activity of the nervous system.
OBJECTIVE
The peripheral administration of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), widely used for the treatment of cytopenias, is often associated with neurological effects [Lieschke et al., N Engl J Med 1992;327:28-34]. This cytokine has recently been reported to affect neurotransmitter metabolism in the nervous system [Bianchi, Neuroreport 1997;8:3587-3590]. To further investigate the neuromodulatory effect of GM-CSF we studied the influence of GM-CSF on the efferent electric activity in the splenic nerve and the integral neuronal activity in medullary gigantocellular reticular formation (MGRF) in rats.


METHODS
Anaesthetized (sodium thiopental 70 mg/kg, i.p.) Wistar rats were injected subcutaneously with 1 microg/kg of hr GM-CSF. Efferent electric activity in the splenic nerve and integral electric activity in MGRF were analyzed. The effectiveness of the applied dose of GM-CSF was verified by determining the elevation of the white blood cell count in peripheral blood 60 min after injection.


RESULTS
We found that GM-CSF increases efferent electric activity in the splenic nerve and decreases that of MGRF as is evident by the frequency of electric discharges. The latency of both effects was 5-15 min.


CONCLUSIONS
This data support the view that GM-CSF exerts a neuromodulatory effect and may provide a new link of neuroimmune communication.
Lukashenko
Polina V
PV
Department of Immunology, Sacharov International State Ecological University, Minsk, Belarus. lpvl@mail.ru
Lukashenko
Tamara M
TM
Savanovich
Irina I
II
Sandakov
Dmitry B
DB
Gerein
Valentin
V
D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012154:Reticular Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000294:innervation*
D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor