A role for the autonomic nervous system in modulating the immune response during mild emotional stimuli.
The role of the autonomic nervous system in the modulation of the immune response to emotional stimuli, was established in rats subjected to the passive avoidance test. An increase in splenic primary antibody response directed against SRBC was found after exposure of rats to the passive avoidance apparatus (novelty). Both local surgical denervation of the spleen and beta-receptor blockade (timolol, 1 mg/kg i.p. 1 h prior to testing) prevented the increase in primary antibody response.
Croiset
G
G
Rudolf Magnus Institute, Medical Faculty, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Heijnen
C J
CJ
van der Wal
W E
WE
de Boer
S F
SF
de Wied
D
D
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000502:physiology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000032:analysis; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology*; D013562:Sympathectomy; D013999:Timolol / Q000494:pharmacology
D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D013999:Timolol; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine