title: Effect of acetylcholine on mitogen response of peripheral lymphocytes isolated from rats exposed to chronic stress.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of acetylcholine (Ach) on lymphocyte function in rats under chronic stress. The authors isolated peripheral lymphocytes from rats 5 weeks after stress treatment and then measured interleukin-2 (IL-2) production after stimulation with concanavalin A or phytohemagglutinin-L. Although mitogen-induced IL-2 production of the stress group was lower than that of the control group, the addition of Ach significantly increased mitogen-induced IL-2 production in both groups. This effect of Ach was inhibited by atropine in the control group only. The changes (increasing rates) in mitogen-induced IL-2 production from basal condition showed a negative correlation with serum corticosterone concentrations. The authors observed no correlation between the effects of Ach (changes in mitogen-induced IL-2 production with Ach compared to those without Ach) and serum corticosterone concentration. These findings suggest that stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system improves lymphocyte function during chronic stress.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Shukutoku University, Chiba, Japan. m.ono@soc.shukutoku.ac.jp
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D000109:Acetylcholine