Expression of the c-Fos gene in hypothalamic cells and cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells in the spleen of rats after treatment with Cytoxan

In experiments on rats we studied the effect of cyclophosphamide-containing drug Cytoxan on activation of neurons in hypothalamic structures involved in the regulation of natural killer cell activity in the spleen and changes in cytotoxicity of these cells. Administration of Cytoxan in a dose of 60 mg/kg increased the number of c-Fos-positive cells in the ventromedial hypothalamus and lateral hypothalamic area and reduced interferon-alpha-induced cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells. Our findings attest to the involvement of central mechanisms of regulation of splenic natural killer cells into side effects of Cytoxan.