Abstract
Aims/hypothesis. To investigate whether proinsulin C peptide influences sympathetic nerve activity directly or indirectly through parasympathetic nerve activity. Methods. The proliferative response of splenic lymphocytes to Concanavalin A (ConA response) which is known to be suppressed by subjection of rats to footshock or intracerebroventricular injection of corticotropin-releasing factor through sympathetic nerve activation was measured. Effect of C peptide alone or before subjection to footshock or injection of corticotropin-releasing factor was examined. Results. Intraperitoneal injection of C peptide was without effect on the basal ConA response, while subjection to footshock or injection of corticotropin-releasing factor lowered it. In contrast, prior injection of C peptide obviated the footshock and corticotropin-releasing factor-induced suppression of the response. When given intracerebroventricularly, C peptide was also effective at much smaller doses. Prior injection of atropine cancelled the C-peptide effects. Conclusion/interpretation. Our results indicate that C peptide counteracts the sympathetic nerve-mediated suppression of splenic lymphocyte proliferation in an atropine-sensitive manner. Thus, C peptide probably activates the parasympathetic nervous system through the afferent mechanism, that in turn antagonizes the sympathetic nerve-mediated suppression of splenic lymphocyte functions. [Diabetologia (2000) 43: 1512–1517]
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 5 June 2000 and in revised form: 31 July 2000
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Okamoto, S., Kimura, K., Kitamura, T. et al. Proinsulin C peptide obviates sympathetically mediated suppression of splenic lymphocyte activity in rats. Diabetologia 43, 1512–1517 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001250051562
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001250051562