Sympathetic immunoregulation: difference between high- and low-responder animals

Abstract

A quantitative relationship is reported between the magnitude of the immune response of rats to sheep red blood cells and diminution of splenic norepinephrine (NE). A decrease in concentration and content of NE in the spleen on day 3 after immunization was evident in both high- and low-responder animals, whereas a diminished concentration of NE persisted only in the high responders. This continuing NE diminution in high-responder animals is associated with increase in spleen weight, probably attributable to blood accumulation. These findings are consonant with the concept that the sympathetic nervous system is involved in immunoregulation.