Study of hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus modulating the splenic immune function in the rat—pseudorabies virus transsynaptic labeling / 免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective　To investigate the possible roles of the different subnuclei of hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus （PNV） which may regulate splenic immune function. Methods　4 SD rats received splenic injection of pseudorabies virus（PRV）.96 hours after injection， a block containing hypothalamus was taken and cut into 40 μm sections with cryostat. Immunohistochemical technique and stereology method were used to detect the distributing character of transsynaptic PRV infection neurons in the PVN and the localization relationship between PRV neurons and AVP neurons in the PVN.Results　Transsynaptic PRV infection neurons distributed through out the PVN， but mainly concentrated in the lateral parvocellular （LP） subnucleus of PVN and posterior magnocellular （PM） subnuclei of PVN （occupied 73.49％ of total surface area），a few distributed in the anterior， dorsal and periventricular parvocellular （AP，DP and PP）nuclei of PVN，few scatted in the rest of nuclei of PVN. In the LP and PM some of the PRV neurons distributed among the AVP neurons.Conclusions　Besides the classical neuro-immuno-endocrine modulation， the PVN may regulate the splenic immune function through direct innervation .The AVP neurons in the PM and neurons projecting to the proganglionic neurons in the dorsal medulla and lateral horn of spinal cord in the LP，DP and AP regulate the immune function of spleen through sympathetic and para-sympathetic innovation.