Melatonin blocks dexamethasone-induced immunosuppression in a seasonally breeding rodent Indian palm squirrel, Funambulus pennanti
Abstract
In vivo effect of dexamethasone and melatonin on immunomodulation has been investigated by studying the lymphocyte proliferation to the mitogen Con A from various lymphoid tissues including bone marrow cells of a seasonally breeding rodent adult male F. pennanti during reproductively inactive phase (October to December). During this phase, animal faces the maximum challenges of the nature (hypothermic stress, scarcity of food and shelter). Dexamethasone treatment (60 microg/day/squirrel) for 60 consecutive days significantly decreased the thymus and spleen activity. The lymphoid tissues mass, total leukocyte, lymphocyte count of peripheral blood, bone marrow and T-cell mediated immune function was also significantly suppressed following the dexamethasone treatment but treatment of melatonin (25 microg/squirrel/day) along with dexamethasone significantly restored the suppressed immune status in squirrels. Further, histological study of the thymus showed profound changes in the cellularity with a depletion of thymocytes in the cortex region of thymic lobules and increased in connective tissues and spindle cells. Melatonin treatment alone increased thymocytes density in thymic cortex, clearly suggesting that melatonin counteracted...Continue Reading
References
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Basophils
Basophils are myeloid cells with a high affinity IgE receptor and is involved in inflammatory responses during allergy. Discover the latest research on Basophils here.
Barrel cortex
Here is the latest research on barrel cortex, a region of somatosensory and motor corticies in the brain, which are used by animals that rely on whiskers for world exploration.