Abstract
The present study demonstrates that: (1) activation of micro -opioid receptors by systemic administration of a highly selective agonist DAGO (100 microg/kg) results in a significant increase in the number of plaque- and rosette-forming cells in the spleen of CBA mice as well as Wistar rats on the 5th day following sheep red blood cells (5 x 10(8)) immunization, (2) the immunostimulatory effect of DAGO is mediated by central mechanisms including the hypothalamus-hypophysis complex; (3) the postsynaptic dopamine (DA) receptors of D2 type are involved in the DAGO-induced immunostimulation since the combined treatment of animals with haloperidol (2 mg/kg), a blocker of DA D2 receptors, and DAGO abolished this effect; (4) the nuclei caudatus and accumbens of the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic DAergic systems, respectively, are implicated in the immune response stimulation caused by DAGO.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology*
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Animals
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Cerebellar Nuclei / immunology
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Cerebellar Nuclei / injuries
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Dopamine / metabolism*
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Dopamine Antagonists / pharmacology
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Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / pharmacology*
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Erythrocytes / immunology
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Haloperidol / pharmacology
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Hemolytic Plaque Technique
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Hypothalamus / immunology
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Hypothalamus / injuries
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Immunization*
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Immunoglobulin M / biosynthesis
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred CBA
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Neuroimmunomodulation
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Nucleus Accumbens / immunology
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Nucleus Accumbens / injuries
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Pituitary Gland / immunology
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Pituitary Gland / injuries
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Rats
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Rats, Wistar
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Receptors, Opioid, mu / agonists*
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Rosette Formation
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Sheep
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Species Specificity
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Spleen / drug effects
Substances
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Analgesics, Opioid
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Dopamine Antagonists
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Immunoglobulin M
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Receptors, Opioid, mu
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Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-
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Haloperidol
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Dopamine