Effect of Cerebellar Fastigial Nucleus Lesion on Immunity in Wistar Albino Rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of cerebellum in immunomodulation as cerebellum was thought traditionally to play an important role in voluntary motor activities. Rats weighing about 200-220 gm were subjected to bilateral electrolytic lesion of fastigial nucleus and following immune parameters were assessedleucocyte migration inhibition test, foot pad thickness, antibody titre and estimation of cytokines – IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ respectively in immunized animals. Rats were divided in to three groups, namely control immunized, sham immunized and lesioned immunized groups. The sham group was strictly considered for evaluation of lesion effect as superficial structures during surgical procedure gets damaged and could also influence on immunomodulation. The significance was fixed at P<0.05. There was significant increase in migration index with concomitant decrease in foot pad thickness in bilateral lesion immunized groups. Significant alterations in cytokine levels were observed in lesion immunized groups when compared with its respective control groups. INTRODUCTION: The existence of bidirectional cross talk between the neuroendocrine and the immune system has prompted many investigators to examine the mechanisms modulating the immune functions and vice-versa. Recent advances in the field of neuroimmunomodulation and in psychoneuroimmunology have shown that the nervous system and the immune system are closely linked and do not work independently 1, . The knowledge of physiological function of cerebellum has long been confined to its voluntary control of motor activities and is less well documented in immunoregulation. Since there are no direct connections existing between the cerebellum and the immune system, some studies have reported cerebellar influence on immune function via pathways that are largely unknown. The bidirectional connections existing between the cerebellum and the hypothalamus are named as cerebello-hypothalamic and hypothalamo-cerebellar projections 3, 4, . The spinocerebellum is a functionally organized region of the cerebellum that includes the vermis at the midline and the intermediate part of the cerebellar hemispheres .