Modulating effects of epithalamin and epithalon on the functional morphology of the spleen in old pinealectomized rats.

Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine2001PMID: 11865335

Animal StudyEpitalon

Plain Language Summary

Epithalamin and epitalon both prevented lymphoid cell hyperplasia in splenic follicular germinal centers and reduced extramedullary hemopoiesis in old pinealectomized rats. These similar effects confirm the functional connection between the pineal gland and immune system and demonstrate the regulatory role of pineal peptides in maintaining cellular homeostasis.

Abstract

Immunohistochemical and morphometric analysis showed that epithalamin and epithalon produced similar effects on the functional morphology of the spleen in pinealectomized rats. Both peptides prevented hyperplasia of lymphoid cells in follicular germinative centers induced by pinealectomy and potentiated the decrease in extramedullary hemopoiesis. These findings confirm the data on functional relationships between the pineal gland and immune system. The effects of epithalamin and epithalon on cell and tissue homeostasis in the spleen of old pinealectomized rats can be regarded as a manifestation of the general regulatory effect of these peptides.

Authors

Khavinson, V K; Konovalov, S S; Yuzhakov, V V; Popuchiev, V V; Kvetnoi, I M