title: Stressor-induced alterations of the splenic plaque-forming cell response: strain differences and modification by propranolol.
abstract: The effects of stressor application on the splenic plaque-forming cell (PFC) response was assessed in two strains of mice: the BALB/cByJ strain, which is highly responsive to stressors; and the more hardy DBA/2J strain. Both strains exhibited a peak PFC response 120 h following administration of sheep red blood cells (SRBC; 5 x 106 cells). Stressor exposure reduced the immune response; however, the appearance of such an outcome was dependent upon the time at which the stressor was applied relative to SRBC inoculation. In DBA/2J mice, foot-shock applied either immediately after SRBC inoculation or at the time of the peak immune response (120 h) resulted in suppression of the PFC response. In BALB/cByJ mice, both stressor severities provoked an immunosuppression when applied 120 h after inoculation, but when applied 96 h after immunization only foot-shock reduced the PFC response. At other intervals, the stressors were without effect. Pretreatment with the beta-norepinephrine antagonist propranolol precluded the immunosuppression elicited by a stressor applied 96 h after inoculation, but did not affect the reduction of the PFC response elicited by a stressor applied 120 h after inoculation. It is suggested that several factors may contribute to stressor-provoked alterations of the immune response, and that the contribution of these factors vary over the course of an immune response being mounted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaharia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clelford
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anisman
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004597:Electroshock; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011433:Propranolol; D003345:Corticosterone