title: Neuroendocrine regulation of immune processes: change in circulating corticosterone levels induced by the primary antibody response in mice.
abstract: The induction of antibody formation mediated significant changes in circulating corticosterone (CS) levels in mice. On the day of the peak plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) or to the trinitrophenyl (TNP) hapten, the 0800 h serum CS concentration was increased. This hormonal elevation was not observed in SRBC-immunized low responder animals which did not give a significant PFC response, thus suggesting a direct correlation between immune responsiveness and hormonal changes. A change in the circadian rhythm of CS was evident in immune animals injected with SRBC. Control animals injected with saline showed a regular circadian pattern of low CS level at 0800 h followed by a high level at 1600 h. In contrast, responding animals injected with SRBC were found to have a reversed CS pattern, i.e. the hormonal concentration was high at 0800 h and low at 1600 h, on the day of the peak PFC response. This reversal of the circadian CS pattern may have important immunoregulatory significance. The immunization-induced CS response could be significantly blocked by the administration of diazepam (DZM), an effect which implies the involvement of central hypothalamic-pituitary control of the response.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012756:Sheep; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes; D006433:Hemocyanins; D003975:Diazepam; D003345:Corticosterone