EFFECT OF HYPOTHALAMIC-LESION OR CHEMICAL AXOTOMY ON RESTITUTION OF IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN MICE AFTER CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE ADMINISTRATION

Splenocytes harvested from mice that underwent chemical axotomy (by 6- hydroxydopamine) or that had electric lesions in their anterior hypoth alami demonstrated a significant decrease in their proliferative abili ty after concanavalin-A stimulation in vitro. In axotomized mice pre-t reated with cyclophosphamide, faster restitution of the proliferative activity was observed on days 6-8 after the drug's administration. Spl enocytes isolated from mice treated with 6-hydroxydopamine did not exh ibit any suppressive activity, which is characteristic of the restitut ion period following administration of cyclophosphamide. These results indicate that the autonomic nervous system exert a direct effect on i mmunoreactivity and on processes which are responsible for restitution after cyclophosphamide-induced immunodisorders. (C) 1996 Internationa l Society for Immunopharmacology