Stress-induced modulation of the immune response in the developing rat pup.
Although substantial evidence has linked stressful events to immune changes in adult animals, little is known regarding the impact of stress on immune function during ontogeny. In the present study, 8-, 16-, and 20-day old rat pups were isolated from their mothers and littermates for 24 h; splenocyte responses to the mitogen Con A were assessed 72 h following reunion. A suppression of the mitogen response was obtained for 16- and 20-day old pups, but no effect was found in the 8-day-old animals, possibly due to the small sample size. These data offer a viable model from which to study further changes in immune responsiveness during ontogeny.
Kennedy
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Department of Psychology, Denison University, Granville, OH 43023.
Collier
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AC
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000276:immunology; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology