All issues > Volume 16(2); 1973

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1973;16(2):117-129. Published online February 28, 1973.

Experimental Studies on the Sites of the Central Nervous System Influencing the Number of the White Blood Cells in the Peripheral Blood

Don Hee Ahn¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University

Abstract

Several earlier expermental studies in animals suggest that a regulatory influence on Ieukopoiesis may be exerted from the central nervous system, especially hypothalamus. Though many anthors indicate various regions which may be engaged in the regulation of the number of the white blood cells in the peripheral blood, no definite area is documented. Author made the experimental studies to find out the sites which may be responsible for the control of the white blood cells in the peripheral blood, through the stimulation on the various parts of tlie central nervous system such as anterior hypothalamus, mid-hypothalamus, posterior hypothalamus, mid brain, median eminence, hippocampus, mammillary body, preoptic area and amygdala with the injection of pertussis vaccine according to ChoFs stereotaxie coordinates. White male rabbits weighing 1. 8 kg were used as experimental animals. The following results were obtained. 1.There was a rapid and significant reduction of the number of the white blood cells in the peripheral blood by the injection of pertussis vaccine into the anterior hypothalamus and intravenous administration. 2.Comparing the above two, the degree of reduction in the number of the white blood cells was more rapid and greater in case of injection into the anterior hypothalamus than given intravenously. 3.During the initial leucopenic response to pertussis vaccine, the main acute effect was lymphopenia. 4.In other areas a slight degree of leukocytosis and temporary lymphopenia were observed without significance. With the above mentioned experimental findings, the author concluded that the anterior hypothalamus may exert regulatory function on the number of the white blood cells in the peripheral blood.

Keywords :