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.
Shu
J
J
Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Ohio 44242.
Stevenson
J R
JR
Zhou
X
X
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