Dexmedetomidine and regulation of splenic sympathetic nerve discharge

Abstract Recent lines of inquiry indicate that sedatives can influence the immune system, leading to the concept of sedative-induced immunomodulation. It has been hypothesized that sedatives may alter immune responses by modulating the sympathetic nervous system, however, little information is known...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Autonomic neuroscience 2014-07, Vol.183, p.111-115
Main Authors: Kenney, M.J, Larsen, B.T, McMurphy, R.M, Mason, D, Fels, R.J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Advanced Basic Science
Animals
Arterial blood pressure
Blood Pressure - drug effects
Dexmedetomidine
Dexmedetomidine - pharmacology
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Hypnotics and Sedatives - pharmacology
Male
Medical Education
Phenylephrine - pharmacology
Rats, Inbred F344
Renal SND
Spleen - innervation
Splenic SND
Sympathetic Nervous System - drug effects
Sympathetic Nervous System - metabolism
Sympathomimetics - pharmacology
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Summary:Abstract Recent lines of inquiry indicate that sedatives can influence the immune system, leading to the concept of sedative-induced immunomodulation. It has been hypothesized that sedatives may alter immune responses by modulating the sympathetic nervous system, however, little information is known regarding the effects of sedatives on regulation of splenic sympathetic nerve discharge (SND), a significant omission based on the functional role that changes in splenic SND exert on splenic cytokine gene expression. The present investigation determined the effect of systemic Dexmedetomidine (Dex) administration on the level of directly-recorded splenic SND and tested the hypothesis that the intravenous administration of Dex would inhibit splenic SND in anesthetized rats. The present results demonstrate for the first time that intravenous Dex administration significantly reduces splenic sympathetic nerve outflow in baroreceptor-intact and sinoaortic-denervated rats, indicating that Dex administration alters the central regulation of splenic SND. The present results provide new information regarding the effect of a centrally-acting alpha2 -adrenergic agonist on the level of sympathetic nerve outflow to a secondary lymphoid organ that plays a critical role in peripheral immune responses.
ISSN:1566-0702
1872-7484
DOI:10.1016/j.autneu.2014.02.009