Evaluation of participation parasympathetic nervous system in a model of food allergic response in mice

• Grant number: 11/03884-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: January 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: João Palermo Neto
• Grantee: Poliana Ferreira Gomes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/51886-3 - Neuroimmunomodulation: drugs, stress and cytokines on nervous, endocrine and immune systems relationships, AP.TEM

Abstract

In the last decades, the importance of studying the specific interactions between the nervous and immune systems has increased. Research conducted over the past years since Selye, have shown that stress not only alters the activity of the immune system, but also that the nervous system has its function altered by the immune system. These findings raised a two-way interaction between the immune and nervous systems, and the implication of these interactions in the physiology and pathophysiology lead to a research area known as Neuroimmunomodulation. Recent evidence has demonstrated an important role for the parasympathetic cholinergic pathway in this two-way communication between the brain and immune system: the so-called Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory pathway. In our laboratories, Basso et al. (2003) showed that food allergy alters the activity of both hypothalamus (paraventricular nucleus) and central amygdaloid nucleus, and as a consequence induces behavioral changes indicative of anxiety. There are evidences that the vagus nerve (afferent/efferent pathway) is extremely important in the interaction between the immune system and specific areas of the brain. Additionally, it has been suggested that electrical stimulation of efferent fibers of vagus nerve could have therapeutic effects in cases of inflammatory conditions, such as sepsis, arthritis, colitis and pancreatitis. Therefore, based on the data obtained in our laboratories by Basso et al (2003), it seems important to evaluate the possible role of the parasympathetic autonomic nervous system in neural and immune process triggered by an allergic intestinal reaction. More specifically in the enteric immune response produced by oral administration of OVA in OVA-sensitized mice. Thus, we intend to use Anabasine, an agonist of nicotinic receptors as an experimental tool. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

GOMES, Poliana Ferreira. Parasympathetic nervous system participation in a model of food allergic response in mice. 2013. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD) São Paulo.