Cachexia--induced cerebellar degeneration: involvement of serum TNF and MCP-1 in the course of experimental neoplastic disease.

Cerebellar degeneration may be recognized as a remote effect of a growing tumor. We have analysed serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), thyroxine and insulin to elucidate the pathomechanism which may be of importance for the development of central degeneration in cachectic Morris hepatoma bearing rats. Serum TNF-alpha and MCP-1 levels were evaluated by means of the ELISA system, while thyroxine and insulin were estimated by radioimmunoassay. Microscopic examination using hematoxylin-eosin, Nissl and Klüver-Barrera staining revealed an atrophy in the cerebellum, homogenization changes of Purkinje cells and decreased cell density of the granular layer. In the Morris hepatoma bearing animals serum MCP-1 content was elevated while TNF-alpha, thyroxine and insulin concentrations were decreased. This study has demonstrated that circulating TNF-alpha and MCP-1, together with decreased levels of insulin and thyroxine accompany and may produce a milieu of factors involved in mechanisms of the development of cerebellar degeneration in cachectic hepatoma bearing rats.