Cholinergic and adrenergic drugs affect delayed type hypersensitivity in C57BL/6 mice.

The present study examined the influence of systemic administration of neuroactive drugs on delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in C57BL/6 mice. The cholinergic agonist nicotine and the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine decreased DTH, whereas the alpha-adrenergic agonist clonidine stimulated DTH. In contrast isoprenaline, a specific beta-adrenergic agonist suppressed DTH. It is concluded from these observations that the autonomic nervous system modulates those processes governing DTH. It seems that the alpha-adrenergic subsystem stimulates, whereas the beta-adrenergic subsystem and the parasympathicus inhibit DTH.