Morphology of Adrenal Gland and Lymph Organs is Impaired in Neurodeficient Lurcher Mutant Mice

Abstract

Beranová M., P. Manìáková, P. ·íma, J. Slípka, F. VoÏeh, J. Koãová, M. âervinková, J. S˘kora: Morphology of Adrenal Gland and Lymph Organs is Impaired in Neurodeficient Lurcher Mutant Mice. Acta Vet. Brno 2002, 71: 23-28. There is a tight structural relation and functional co-operation between the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. A dense network of soluble neuro-endocrine and immune mediators exists to ensure close interactions. These hormones, cytokines and neurotransmitters all interact through positive and negative feed-forward and feedback loops. The mediators, once considered specific to the central nervous system (CNS), the endocrine system (ES) or the immune system (IS), do in fact act in all three systems, forming that way the united neuro-endocrine-immune system. The complex neuro-endocrine-immune networks operate under both physiological and pathological conditions.In the presented study microscopical analyses of selected immune organs (the thymus, spleen, inguinal and subscapular lymph nodes) and of the adrenal gland of the neurodeficient Lurcher mutant mice and control C3H mice were performed. In the neurodeficient mice the morphology of the immune organs was impaired. The changes followed in the spleen, especially the increased number of megakaryocytes, lead to the hypothesis of enhanced extramedullar hemopoiesis in the neurodeficient Lurcher mutant mice. Histopathological analysis of the adrenal gland showed the relative hypertrophy of the adrenal medulla. Regarding the adrenal cortex, the three cortical zones, zona glomerularis, fasciculata and reticularis, are difficult to be distinguished. It has been supposed that structural changes of adrenal medulla could document the increased secretion of catecholamines in the neurodeficient animals.Our observations confirm the idea of the tight cooperation of neuro-endocrine-immune structures and contribute to its better understanding, specifically in the conditions of postnatally progressing neurodeficiency. Lurcher mutant mice, homeostatic relatioships, neuro-endocrine-immune system, adrenal gland, megakaryocytesThe intrinsic condition for the individual survival is a balance of the internal enviromenthomeostasis. There are many proofs of the existence of a unified neuro-endocrine-immune regulatory system that is responsible for maintaining the homeostasis (Michael and Chapman 1990;Weigent and Blalock 1995;Besedovsky et al. 1983). The regulatory relations within that system are mutual and complex (Jankovic 1989;Csaba 1994; ·íma and Vûtviãka 1990;Provinciali and Fabris 1991;Pertseva 1991; Slípka 1961).To contribute to the explanation of these relations we used in our previous study "an experiment of the nature", gross-brain malformation -anencephaly -which eliminates the central nervous system and consequently the neuro-endocrine part of the homeostatic system (Slípka et al. 1997; B e ranová 1994). The spontaneously aborted human foetuses without any external malformation and human anencephalic foetuses were compared with

Twenty Years of Cerebellar Degeneration Research at the Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pilsen, Charles University

“…Here, significant changes were observed in both immunocompetent (thymus, spleen, lymphatic nodes) and endocrine (both adrenal cortex and medulla) organs. Generally, these were changes in the sense of regression with signs of weakening function, here also with minor strain differences (Beranová et al 2002. As was subsequently confirmed by more recent works, abnormal stress reactions were proven in +/Lc, undoubtedly related to the impairment of regulation on the HPA axis (hypothalamus -pituitary gland -adrenal glands) (Hilber et al 2004, Tůma et al 2017).…”

Reduced Primary T Lymphopoiesis in 3-Month-Old Lurcher Mice: Sign of Premature Ageing of Thymus?

“…However, 1 week after birth the Purkinje cell decrement occurs also in heterozygous individuals and, 3 months later, the neurodegeneration due to total Purkinje cell loss is completed [12,[14][15][16][17] . Interestingly, brain erosion is accompanied by relatively slower changes in the thymus architecture, both macroscopic and microscopic [8,25] . The thymus considerably decreases in its size and, when examined microscopically, the interface between cortex and medulla is not clearly distinguished.…”

“…Lurcher-type mutation causes degeneration of CNS [12,13] accompanied by premature thymus involution [8,25] . The presence of the mutated form of GluR ␦ 2 on the surface of Purkinje cells results in their increased membrane conductance, depolarized resting potential and ultimately in excitotoxic apoptosis.…”

“…In the previous studies, signifi cant changes in the histoarchitecture of the Lc/+ thymus together with increased numbers of apoptotic and necrotic thymic cells have been shown to occur in Lc/+ mice with increasing age [8,25] . As the thymus in neonates appeared quite normal, the secondary character of thymus development disturbances could not be excluded.…”

“…It is generally accepted that cytokines and other substances produced by immune system during immune response and/or abnormalities and dysfunctions of the immune system may infl uence the functional expression of the neuroendocrine system [5][6][7] . Similarly, hormones and neurotransmitters as well as congenital or externally induced changes within the neuroendocrine system may cause functional modifi cations of immunity [8][9][10] .…”