Histocompatibility antigens and effects of neuroactive drugs on phytohaemagglutinin stimulation of lymphocytes in vitro.

The effects of a psychopharmacological agent, sulpiride, and of some neuromediators, dopamine, norepinephrine and propranolol, on the uptake of 3H-thymidine by lymphocytes stimulated in vitro with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) were studied. The lymphoctes were obtained from two populations of subjects, one with HLA-AL CRAG antigens of the HLA-SD series and one without. We found that the presence of the CRAG antigens in the lymphocytes led in the presence of the various drugs to behaviour different from what was seen when the antigens were not present. When the two groups were pooled, PHA lymphocytes activation was inhibited by dopamine, sulpiride, and propranolol and was not effected by norepinephrine.