[Interrelations of natural cellular cytotoxicity and interferon systems in immobilization stress]

The suppressed cytotoxic natural killer activity was observed in the mouse spleen during 2 days after 6 h of immobilization stress. Both serum interferon level and interferon production by spleen cells under PHA, ConA and enterotoxin stimulation were also significantly decreased. The period of suppression was followed by the recovery of the activity of the two systems by day 7-9. The experimental data form the basis for the suggestion that endogenous interferon has major significance for the mechanism of disturbed natural killer activity after stress influences.