[Effects of 7-oxo-DHEA treatment on the immunoreactivity of BALB/c mice subjected to chronic mild stress].
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether 7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone (7-oxo-DHEA) can reverse the hypoimmunity in BALB/c mice exposed to chronic mild stress.


METHODS
A chronic mild stress animal model was established by subjecting BALB/c mice to a stressful regimen arranged in an unpredicted manner for 4 consecutive weeks. Immunological function alternations under chronic mild stress were assessed by lymphocytes proliferative response to mitogens and NK cell lysis activity test.


RESULTS
The studies showed the correlation between the state of depression and abnormalities in the immune response, such as a decrease of T lymphocytes proliferative response to Con A and suppression of cytotoxic of NK cell. Meanwhile, significant decrease of T3 and T4 levels was also observed. When stressed mice were daily given 7-oxo-DHEA 15 mg.kg-1, lymphocyte proliferative response and the NK cell activity were significantly enhanced and the decreased levels of T3 and T4 were restored in the stressed mice.


CONCLUSIONS
7-oxo-DHEA can improve the depressive symptoms and hypoimmunity of BALB/c mice induced by chronic mild stress as its parent DHEA.
Liu
Yan-yong
YY
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China.
Yang
Nan
N
Kong
Ling-na
LN
Zuo
Ping-ping
PP
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014284:Triiodothyronine; C002914:7-oxodehydroepiandrosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D013974:Thyroxine