Effects of arginine-lysine mixture, glucose and ATP on the autonomic outflows to the thymus and spleen.

Effect of arginine-lysine mixture, glucose and ATP on the efferent activities of the vagal thymic branch and splenic nerve were studied in urethane anesthetized rat. In male Wistar rats jugular vein was cannulated for drug administration. In one group the thymus was exposed and a nerve filament of the central cut end of vagal thymus was isolated. In another group a filament was isolated from that of the splenic nerve. The nerve filament was placed on electrodes to record efferent activity before and after administration of argininelysine mixture solution, glucose or ATP solution. Enhancement of efferent activity of vagal thymic nerve was observed after i.v. administration of arginine-lysine mixture, glucose and ATP solution. Suppression in efferent activity of splenic nerve was investigated following i.v. administration of arginine-lysine mixture, glucose and ATP solution. These results suggest that i.v. arginine-lysine, glucose and ATP increase thymic lymphocyte release, and that i.v. arginine-lysine, glucose and ATP enhance NK cell activity.