Influence of psychogenic and neurogenic stressors on endocrine and immune activity: differential effects in fast and slow seizing rat strains

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
H AnismanZ Merali

Abstract

Variations of plasma ACTH and corticosterone, as well as splenic macrophage activity and mitogen-induced cell proliferation, were determined in rats following 15 min of either the neurogenic stressor of restraint or by a purely psychogenic stressor consisting of exposure to a ferret. The effects of these stressors were assessed in two strains of rats that were selectively bred for either Fast or Slow kindling epileptogenesis triggered in response to amygdala stimulation. The stressors differentially influenced behavioral responses, endocrine activity, and immune functioning, and these effects varied with the strain of rat. In response to restraint the Fast rats exhibited protracted struggling, while the Slow rats tended to be immobile. In contrast, upon ferret exposure the Fast rats showed greater immobility than the Slow rats. The stressors also induced marked elevations of plasma ACTH and corticosterone. Whereas the ACTH and corticosterone increases were more pronounced in response to the ferret in the Slow rats, restraint resulted in a markedly greater rise of plasma ACTH in the Fast strain. Proliferation of splenic lymphocytes in response to Con A and LPS were elevated in Fast seizing rats, while macrophage activity, as det...Continue Reading

Citations

Dec 1, 2002·Acta Neuropsychiatrica·Alexander W Kusnecov, Alba Rossi-George
Jul 8, 1999·The International Journal of Neuroscience·R N HiramotoV K Ghanta
Dec 9, 2003·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·Owen P KellyHymie Anisman
Nov 19, 2008·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·Z W LuH Anisman
Jun 25, 2008·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·S CampeauC V Masini
Mar 23, 2006·Journal of Comparative Psychology·Christine J ReinhartSergio M Pellis
May 10, 2008·Behavioural Brain Research·Nicola GrissomSeema Bhatnagar
Jan 8, 1999·Experimental Neurology·W LöscherU Ebert
Feb 22, 2008·Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie·Jane A Foster, Glenda MacQueen
Jun 15, 2001·ILAR Journal·Steven FullwoodJohn J. McGlone

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