Modulating Effect of Interleukin-4 on Free Radical Processes in the Brain of Rats during Emotional Stress

• Published in: Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine 2011-08, Vol.151 (4), p.396-399
• Main Authors: Pertsov, S. S., Koplik, E. V., Kalinichenko, L. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amygdala; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Cell Biology; Cortex; Cortex (somatosensory); Emotions; Free radicals; Free Radicals - metabolism; General Pathology and Pathophysiology; Immobilization; Inflammation; Interleukin 4; Interleukin-4 - administration & dosage; Interleukin-4 - pharmacology; Interleukins; Internal Medicine; Laboratory Medicine; Male; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; Pathology; Psychological aspects; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Stress; Stress (Psychology); Stress, Psychological
• ISSN: 0007-4888; 1573-8221
• DOI: 10.1007/s10517-011-1340-x

We studied the effect of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 on the intensity of free radical processes in emotiogenic brain structures (hypothalamus, sensorimotor cortex, and amygdala) in rats with different prognostic emotional resistance. One-hour immobilization of animals with simultaneous electrocutaneous stimulation was used as a model of acute stress. The stress was accompanied by accumulation of MDA (LPO end-product) in the sensorimotor cortex and amygdala of passive rats. Intraperitoneal administration of IL-4 (5 μg/kg) increased MDA content in the amygdala and hypothalamus of non-stressed rats with different behavioral activity. In the sensorimotor cortex of passive and, especially, active rats, a decrease in MDA level was observed after injection of this cytokine. Preliminary administration of IL-4 prevented LPO activation in the sensorimotor cortex of behaviorally passive animals observed after stress against the background of saline injection. Regional peculiarities of LPO under the influence of this cytokine can be determined by differences in both biochemical processes in the brain tissue and specific involvement of different emotiogenic structures in the formation of the stress response. The revealed differences in the effects of IL-4 on free radical processes in active and passive rats indicate peculiarities of immune mechanisms in animals with different resistance to the same type of stress.