Local and systemic autonomic nervous effects on cell migration to the spleen.

This work is based on the hypothesis that sympathetic nerves regulate the uptake of circulating cells by the spleen by affecting splenic blood flow and that the quantity of cells sequestered depends on whether changes in noradrenergic transmission occur at local or systemic levels. Fluorescently labeled lymphoid cells were injected into rats, and organ blood flow was measured by the microsphere method. Increased retention of cells in the spleen paralleled by increased blood flow was detected after local denervation of this organ or administration of bacterial endotoxin.

Interactions of temperature and angiotensin II in paraventricular neurons of rats in vitro.

We recorded extracellular impulse activity of hypothalamic paraventricular neurons ( n=75) in rat brain slices during application of angiotensin II (ANG II, 10(-9)-10(-6) M) and/or temperature changes (32-42 degrees C). ANG II, with a threshold concentration of 10(-8) M, increased the firing rate in more than 80% of the neurons with strongest excitations occurring in bursting neurons. Increasing the temperature also raised the discharge rate in the majority of the neurons, often together with enhanced burst discharges.