Modulation of cellular immune responses by cold water swim stress in the rat.
Alterations of cell-mediated immune responses in the rat produced by 5-day (one 3-min stress session each day for 5 days) and 1-day (three 3-min stress sessions within 12 h) cold water stress administration were investigated. Mitogenic responses to concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-2 (IL-2) production, CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratios, and natural killer (NK) cell activity of blood and spleen lymphocytes were increased by the 5-day cold water stress. Responses to Con A and LPS, IL-2 production, and CD4+ and CD8+ percentages of blood and spleen lymphocytes were decreased by the 1-day cold water stress. Corticosterone levels were increased by both the 1-day and 5-day cold water stress. Cold water stress, as a natural stressor, may have its own unique pattern of neuroendocrine changes because of the accompanying body temperature variations that may influence immune functions.
Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Ohio 44242.
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Shu
J R
JR
Stevenson
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Zhou
D000818:Animals; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology*; D013550:Swimming
D003208:Concanavalin A; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D003345:Corticosterone