Adrenal Involvement in the Expression of Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity to SRBC and Contact Sensitivity to DNFB in Stressed Mice

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Abstract
The stress of immobilization suppresses delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to an i.v. injection of sheep erythrocytes (SRBC). Immobilization enhances contact sensitivity reactions to the cutaneous application of 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB). Adrenalectomy and the corticosteroid inhibitor, metyrapone, were used to evaluate the influence of corticosterone on the expression of these cell-mediated immune events in stressed mice. Adrenalectomy and metyrapone after induction of the immune response abolished the suppression of DTH to SRBC that was observed in immobilized, control animals. The immobilization-induced increase in contact sensitivity to DNFB was still observed after adrenalectomy or metyrapone treatment. Similar results were observed when mice were given metyrapone or adrenalectomized before sensitization. Adrenal corticosteroids are apparently involved in the stress-induced suppression of DTH to SRBC, but do not account for the stress-induced enhancement in contact sensitivity to DNFB.