[T-lymphocyte subpopulations and immune response in mice of the ASC strain with depressive-like behaviour]

Analysis of the content of CD16/32+, CD4+ and CD8+ -cells was perfomed in the peripheral blood and spleen ofmice of the ASC strain with high predisposition to depressive-like state in comparison with mice of parent CBA strain having no depressive behaviour. In both cases, ASC mice showed a decrease in the percentage of CD16/32+ and CD4+-cells along with an increase CD8 cells and lowering of immunoreactivity index (CD4+/CD8+). Changes in cellular subpopulations found in intact ASC mice was accompanied with animals' low capacity to respond to T-dependent antigen: sheep red blood cells at the dose of 5 x 10(8). In contrast to CBA mice the percentage and absolute number of IgM-antibody-forming cells were significantly decreased in the spleen of ASC mice on the 4th and 5th days after immunization as well as the numbers of IgG-antibody-forming cells on the 6th day of the immune response. Possible mechanisms underlying the immune reactivity inhibition under depressive-like state are discussed.