SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS-SYSTEM MODULATION OF THE IMMUNE-SYSTEM .2. INDUCTION OF LYMPHOCYTE-PROLIFERATION AND MIGRATION IN-VIVO BY CHEMICAL SYMPATHECTOMY

We have used chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in adult mice to study the role of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in regulating cellular proliferation and migration in lymphoid organs. Following sympathectomy, an increase in inguinal and axillary lymph n ode (LN) weight and cellularity was observed. This increase paralleled increased cellular proliferation in vivo, as measured by uptake of [I -125]deoxyuridine ((125)IUdR). Transient increases in cellular prolife ration also were observed in spleen and bone marrow following sympathe ctomy. Administration of desipramine prior to 6-OHDA to prevent sympat hectomy resulted in control levels of proliferation. beta(-)Adrenocept or blockade just prior to or following 6-OHDA treatment did not alter the enhanced proliferation. Migration of normal Cr-51-labelled lymphoc ytes into inguinal and axillary LN was enhanced in sympathectomized re cipients. Conversely, cells from sympathectomized animals showed dimin ished migration to these LN upon transfer into intact recipients. Thes e results demonstrate that depletion of NA innervation alters cellular proliferation and lymphocyte migration in primary and secondary lymph oid organs.