[Effect of cold on the antigen binding function of splenic cells at different periods of immunogenesis in rats]

The patterns of changes in the immune response when deep cooling with different rates acted at various periods during development of the immune response, were examined in Wistar rats. Cold exposure causes not only a suppression but also stimulation of the immune response to antigen. The suppressive effect of deep cooling when it preceded immune challenge (the antigen injected at a body temperature decreased by 3-4 degrees C) waned and became stimulating with increasing time interval between antigen challenge and cold exposure. The stimulating effect on the immune response was most pronounced when cold exposure occurred in 5 days after the antigen challenge. These changes differed quantitatively also when cooling was either rapid, or slow. Thus the modulating effect of the thermal afferent signal was differently manifested depending in the cooling rate, i.e. the presence or absence of the dynamic activity of the peripheral thermosensitive afferents, and the time elapsed between antigen challenge and cold exposure.