Immunosuppression elicited by stressors and stressor-related odors

Exposure of footshock 72 h after administration of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) provoked a reduction of the splenic plaque-forming cell (PFC) response and plasma antibody titers in CD-1 mice. At this time following SRBC inoculation the antibody titers and PFC response were also modifiable by nonpainful stressors, such as the presentation of a weak light or odor cues of conspecifics that had been exposed to a stressor (light). Data are discussed in terms of the sensitivity of the immune response to environmental and psychological stressors, and the implications of this particular sensitivity to further analyses of stressor effects on immune activity.