Immune deviation following stress odor exposure: role of endogenous opioids.
Olfactory cues can alter immune function. BALB/c mice exposed to odors produced by footshock stressed donor mice have increased antibody responses and increased splenic interleukin (IL)-4 production following immunization relative to recipients of odors from unstressed animals. Here we document that exposure to stress odors results in analgesia that is blocked by the non-selective opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone. The stress odor-induced increase in antigen-driven IL-4 and antibody is also blocked by oral administration of naltrexone. Thus, we provide evidence that immune deviation can occur following a psychosocial stressor, and that the deviation appears to be mediated by endogenous opioid production.
Moynihan
J A
JA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY 14642, USA. jmoy@uhura.cc.rochester.edu
Karp
J D
JD
Cohen
N
N
Ader
R
R
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000698:Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology*; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000187:drug effects; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000187:drug effects; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009812:Odorants; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*
D004723:Endorphins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D015847:Interleukin-4; D009271:Naltrexone; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin