EFFECTS OF CORIOLUS-VERSICOLOR POLYSACCHARIDES PEPTIDES ON ELECTRIC-ACTIVITY OF MEDIOBASAL HYPOTHALAMUS AND ON IMMUNE FUNCTION IN RATS

AIM: The nervous mechanism of the immune potentiating effect of Coriol us versicolor polysaccharides peptides (PSP) was studied in Wistar rat s. METHODS: The unit discharge of the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) ne urons was recorded extracellularly and the lymphocyte proliferation wa s measured. RESULTS: PSP 1 g . kg(-1) ig for 5 d increased the T-lymph ocytes and promoted T-lymphocyte proliferation in spleen and periphera l blood. This promoting effect of PSP was blocked by MBH lesion. PSP i ncreased the discharge frequency of MBH neurons, but no increase in di scharge frequency was observed after treatment of PSP plus immune inhi bitor, cyclosporin A. CONCLUSION: MBH is involved in the immune-potent iating effect of PSP.