INTERLEUKIN-2 SUPPRESSES EFFERENT SENSORY TRANSMISSION IN THE PRIMARYSOMATOSENSORY CORTEX

THE effect of topical application of interleukin 2 (IL-2) on afferent sensory transmission to the neurones in the primary somatosensory (SI) cortex was determined quantitatively in anaesthetized rats. IL-2 (0.1 , 1.0, 5.0 units) significantly suppressed afferent sensory transmissi on in SI cortical neurones (n = 19) in a dose-dependent manner. IL-2-i nduced suppression fully recovered by 60 min after drug. In control ex periments, saline solution containing 0.2% bovine serum albumin, used as a vehicle, did not affect afferent sensory transmission. Our result s suggest that IL-2 and its receptor present in the SI cortex may be i nvolved in the processing of afferent sensory information.