[Acetylcholinesterase activity and catecholamine content in nerve fibers of the thymus gland and spleen in white rats at remote time after chronic exposure to physical factors and administration of interleukin-1 beta].

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and catecholamine (CA) content in nerve fibres of the thymus and spleen of white rats were studied 6 months after prolonged combined exposure to ionizing radiation and heat and after application of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). Combined action of the physical factors induced a certain decrease in AChE activity and increase in CA content in both organs. Application of the cytokine to animals exposed to radiation and heat elicited a more pronounced decrease in AChE in these lymphoid organs and increase, especially in the spleen, in CA. The results suggest about enhanced responsiveness of the autonomic nervous system to IL-1 beta animals which had been long before exposed to prolonged combined action of radiation and heat.