Related Experiment Videos
Restraint stress-induced thymic involution and cell apoptosis are dependent on endogenous glucocorticoids
Nora Tarcic1, Haim Ovadia2, David W Weiss1
1Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, POB 12000, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel.
Journal of Neuroimmunology
|April 4, 1998
Summary
Endogenous glucocorticoids (GC) mediate restraint stress effects on the thymus. Blocking GC synthesis or receptors prevented stress-induced thymic involution and apoptosis in mice.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
- Stress Physiology
Background:
- Restraint stress impacts physiological and behavioral responses.
- Stress can induce thymic involution and apoptosis.
- Endogenous glucocorticoids (GC) are key stress hormones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of endogenous GC in restraint stress-induced thymic involution and apoptosis.
- To determine if GC mediate stress effects on thymocyte subsets and DNA fragmentation.
Main Methods:
- Surgical and chemical adrenalectomy to remove endogenous GC.
- Administration of a GC receptor antagonist (RU-38486).
- Inhibition of GC biosynthesis with metyrapone.
Main Results:
- Restraint stress caused thymic involution, decreased CD4+8+ thymocytes, and DNA fragmentation.
- Adrenalectomy completely abrogated stress-induced thymic changes.
- Metyrapone and RU-38486 treatment attenuated the effects of restraint stress on the thymus.
Conclusions:
- Endogenous glucocorticoids play a critical role in mediating the effects of restraint stress on the thymus.
- GC are essential for stress-induced thymic involution, thymocyte subset alterations, and DNA fragmentation.