Abstract
The nervous, endocrine and immune systems are functionally interconnected so that they may form a complex metasystem. They cooperate by means of many different pathways and share common signaling molecules (cytokine-, neuropeptide-, and hormone-like substances, membrane bound ligands and receptors).
Abnormalities within the neuro-endocrine compartment can thus affect immune mechanisms and vice versa (Beranová 2002, Haddad 2002, Marx 1998, Spector 1996, Chrousos 1995, Trenkner 1986). The Lurcher type mutation (Lc) in mice has a profound impact on brain (Selimi 2003, Yue 2002, Zuo 1997, Norman 1995, Araki 1993, Caddy 1979, Caddy 1976), which could be followed by immune system changes (Vernet-der Garabedian 1998, Frederic 1997).
We have investigated whether macroscopic changes in the thymus size and microscopic observations showing no obvious cortico-medullary interface in 3-month-old Lurcher mice (Mand'áková 2003) might be associated with altered thymocyte development and/or changes in peripheral T cell subsets distribution.