Physiologic Concentrations of Cortisol Suppress Cell-Mediated Immune Events in the Domestic Pig

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Abstract
Mild restraint of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa) caused activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, atrophy of the thymus gland, and a significant reduction in cell-mediated, delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. Physiologic concentrations of cortisol suppressed, in vitro, phytohemagglutinin- and concanavalin A-induced proliferation of porcine thymocytes, splenocytes, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, even though cortisol was only mildly cytolytic. The concept of an endocrine influence on regulation of cell-mediated immune events to species other than humans and rodents is extended.