Experimental lesion of medial frontal cortex mediates inhibition of expression of carbohydrate-binding sites in the spleen macrophages in rat

The fundamental concept of a neuroimmunological network is web appreciated although detailed description of the individual mechanisms has not yet been attained. In an effort to close this gap, the effect of electrolesion of t he frontal medial cortex, a structure with the known "immunoreactivity", on selected phenotypic features of spleen macrophages was studied. Since suga r receptors (lectins) are pivotal for recognition, custom-made tools termed neoglycoproteins were employed to delineate any injury-induced changes of their expression. The total number of macrophages in the spleen red pulp wa s assessed using the ED-1 monoclonal antibody. The results showed that afte r lesion of the medial frontal cortex, the extent of expression of carbohyd rate-binding sites in red pulp spleen macrophages significantly decreased w ithout affecting the total number of these cells. These data intimate that distinct brain regions are involved in the control of the phenotype of macr ophages in the central lymphoid organs by currently elusive biochemical mec hanisms.