Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6020956 | Journal of Neuroimmunology | 2012 | 14 Pages |
In the present study, we investigated how increased sympathetic tone during middle-age affects the splenic sympathetic neurotransmission. Fifteen-month-old (M) F344 rats received rilmenidine (0, 0.5 or 1.5 mg/kg/day, i.p. for 90 days) to lower sympathetic tone. Controls for age were untreated 3 or 18 M rats. We report that rilmenidine (1) reduced plasma and splenic norepinephrine concentrations and splenic norepinephrine turnover, and partially reversed the sympathetic nerve loss; and (2) increased β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) density and β-AR-stimulated cAMP production. Collectively, these findings suggest a protective effect of lowering sympathetic tone on sympathetic nerve integrity, and enhanced sympathetic neurotransmission in secondary immune organs.