Issue 1/2 Vol. 36 1994

Norepinephrine alterations in lymphoid tissue after prenatal ethanol exposure and during delayed type hypersensitivity responses

GÜNTHER, B. and CLAUSING, P.

Spleen, thymus and lymph nodes are under autonomic control via noradrenergic innervation (Felten and Felten, 1991). Manipulation of this noradrenergic input results in significant changes in sheep red blood cell (SRBC) antibody production (Besedovsky et al., 1979, Hall et al., 1982) and in delayed type hypersensitivity responses (Günther and Clausing, 1992, Clausing et al. 1993). A fair number of studies have described the effects of experimental manipulation of the autonomic nervous system (sympathectomy, neuropharmacological challenges, etc.) on T cell functions, however information on the intrinsic alterations of norepinephrine concentration in lymphoid tissue during the course of immune reactions is scarce (cf. Carlson et. al., 1987). Furthermore, published data on NE levels are generally restricted to spleen and/or thymus (Fuchs et al., 1988, Gottesfeld et al., 1990, Bütikofer et al. 1993). Therefore, the present investigation of NE- immune interactions focused particularly on the cervical lymph node, a node which is close to the ear, the challenge site in our model of DTH.

Keywords: norepinephrine, lymphoid tissue, prenatal alcohol exposure, hypersensitivity, immune reaction

Short Title: Günther, B. (1994) PsyBeit 1-2:22

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