title: Dexmedetomidine and regulation of splenic sympathetic nerve discharge.
abstract: Recent lines of inquiry indicate that sedatives can influence the immune system, leading to the concept of sedative-induced immunomodulation. It has been hypothesized that sedatives may alter immune responses by modulating the sympathetic nervous system, however, little information is known regarding the effects of sedatives on regulation of splenic sympathetic nerve discharge (SND), a significant omission based on the functional role that changes in splenic SND exert on splenic cytokine gene expression. The present investigation determined the effect of systemic Dexmedetomidine (Dex) administration on the level of directly-recorded splenic SND and tested the hypothesis that the intravenous administration of Dex would inhibit splenic SND in anesthetized rats. The present results demonstrate for the first time that intravenous Dex administration significantly reduces splenic sympathetic nerve outflow in baroreceptor-intact and sinoaortic-denervated rats, indicating that Dex administration alters the central regulation of splenic SND. The present results provide new information regarding the effect of a centrally-acting alpha2-adrenergic agonist on the level of sympathetic nerve outflow to a secondary lymphoid organ that plays a critical role in peripheral immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States; Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States. Electronic address: Kenny@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kenney
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States; Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States; Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: McMurphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States; Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States; Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Fels
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013154:Spleen / Q000294:innervation*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D010656:Phenylephrine; D020927:Dexmedetomidine
keywords: Arterial blood pressure; Dexmedetomidine; Renal SND; Splenic SND