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Stress-induced modulation of the immune response in the developing rat pup
1Department of Psychology, Denison University, Granville, OH 43023.
Insights
Stressful events impact immune function in young rats. Adolescent rat pups (16- and 20-day-olds) showed suppressed immune responses after stress, unlike younger pups.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Stressful events are linked to immune changes in adult animals.
- The impact of stress on immune function during early development (ontogeny) is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of acute stress on immune responsiveness in developing rat pups.
- To establish a model for studying ontogenetic changes in immune function.
Main Methods:
- Rat pups of 8, 16, and 20 days old were subjected to 24-hour maternal and littermate isolation (stress).
- Splenocyte proliferation responses to the mitogen Concanavalin A (Con A) were measured 72 hours post-reunion.
Main Results:
- A significant suppression of mitogen-induced splenocyte proliferation was observed in 16- and 20-day-old rat pups.
- No significant effect on immune response was detected in 8-day-old pups, potentially due to sample size limitations.
Conclusions:
- Early life stress can impair immune system development and function in adolescent rats.
- This study provides a model for further research into stress-induced immune changes during ontogeny.
Abstract:
Although substantial evidence has linked stressful events to immune changes in adult animals, little is known regarding the impact of stress on immune function during ontogeny. In the present study, 8-, 16-, and 20-day old rat pups were isolated from their mothers and littermates for 24 h; splenocyte responses to the mitogen Con A were assessed 72 h following reunion. A suppression of the mitogen response was obtained for 16- and 20-day old pups, but no effect was found in the 8-day-old animals, possibly due to the small sample size. These data offer a viable model from which to study further changes in immune responsiveness during ontogeny.