title: Stress-induced modulation of the immune response in the developing rat pup.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Psychology, Denison University, Granville, OH 43023.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kennedy
authors: A C
authors: AC
authors: Collier
mesh_terms: 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