NEUROPEPTIDE-Y INHIBITS IN-VIVO SPECIFIC ANTIBODY-PRODUCTION IN RATS

The sympathetic neurotransmitter neuropeptide-Y (NPY) is hypothesized to play a role in the in vivo modulation of immune responses. This stu dy examined the effects of intraperitoneal administration of NPY on sp ecific antibody responses to keyhole limper hemocyanin (KLH) in rats. Antibody levels were repeatedly measured by enzyme-linked immunosorben t assay before and after intraperitoneal immunization with KLH. NPY in duced a dose-dependent inhibition of ISM and IgG antibody responses fo llowing immunization with either physiologic or supraphysiologic doses of antigen. These in vivo results suggests that NPY may be involved i n endogenous modulation of immune responses. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.