In Vitro Effect of Malatonin and IL-1 (Produced by Peritoneal Macrophages) on Spleenic and Thymic Lymphocyte Proliferation of Funambulus pennanti (Indian Palm Squirrel)

The immune system was believed until recently, to be closely integrated with other physiological circuits such as the central nervous and neuroendocrine system of which pineal is a integral constituent (Gupta 1990). A lot of in vivo and in vitro studies have been performed to explain the immunoregulatory role of melatonin but till date there is very less report, available in the laboratory animals in this context. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the immunoregulatory role of pineal melatonin together with IL-1, i.e. synergic effect (IL-1 produced by LPS induced peritoneal macrophages) on the spleenocyte and thymocyte proliferation of the spleen and thymus respectively of F. pennanti. IL-1 is well known to induce proliferation of lymphocytes in rodents (Durum et ai, 1985; Mannel et al., 1985). This capacity of IL-1 has been utilized in its wisely used bioassay (Gearing et al., 1985).