Effect of parasympathetic decentralization on interferon-gamma release from rat submandibular lymph nodes in vitro

The aim of this study was to examine the regulation of interferon (IFN)-gam ma release by cells from submandibular lymph nodes of rats subjected to a u nilateral parasympathetic decentralization by severing the ipsilateral chor da tympani 7 days earlier. Cells obtained from contralateral sham-operated submandibular lymph nodes were employed as control. Parasympathetic decentr alization of lymph nodes resulted in significantly less IFN-gamma release a s compared to that found in innervated lymph nodes. Mitogens (lipopolysacch aride, concanavalin A) stimulated IFN-gamma release in cells derived from t he innervated lymph nodes only. The muscarinic agonist metacholine decrease d IFN-gamma release in cells derived from innervated lymph nodes. At the hi ghest concentration employed (10(-4) M), metacholine suppressed the stimula tory effect of mitogens on IFN-gamma release in cells of innervated lymph n odes while the muscarinic antagonist atropine (10(-8)-10(-4) M) lacked to a ffect IFN-gamma release. Addition of nicotine (10(-5)-10(-3) M) failed to m odify IFN-gamma release. The results support the occurrence of significant effects of local parasympathetics in modulating IFN-gamma release by subman dibular lymph nodes. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.