Social stress alters the severity and onset of the chronic phase of Theiler's virus infection.
Social stress alters the acute phase of Theiler's virus infection (TMEV), a model of multiple sclerosis. Stress applied prior to infection had deleterious disease outcomes, while stress applied concurrent with infection was protective. The current study examined multiple behavioral (motor impairment, open field activity) and immunological measures (IL-6, antibodies to virus and myelin proteins) in both the acute and chronic phases of TMEV. It was found that stress applied prior to infection exacerbated disease outcomes, while concurrent application was protective in both disease phases.
Johnson
Robin R
RR
Behavioral and Cellular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, 77843-4235, USA. R8obin@earthlink.net
Prentice
Thomas W
TW
Bridegam
Patrick
P
Young
Colin R
CR
Steelman
Andrew J
AJ
Welsh
Thomas H
TH
Welsh
C Jane R
CJ
Meagher
Mary W
MW
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D018188:Cardiovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000821:virology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology; D017945:Theilovirus / Q000276:immunology