Antibody Response to Bovine Serum Albumin in Mice: The Effects of Psychosocial Environmental Change

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Abstract
The effects of psychosocial environmental change [stress] upon circulating antibody response to antigenic challenge [bovine serum albumin] was investigated in CBA/USC mice. Mice were reared in isolation; selected groups were subsequently exposed to psychosocial stimulation. Antibody titers of mice that remained in isolation were significantly higher than the titers of mice exposed to psychosocial stimulation. One group of mice exposed to psychosocial stimulation and then returned to isolation showed titers significantly below those of mice exposed to psychosocial stimulation only. Psychosocial environmental changes apparently can produce significant suppression of antibody formation in mice.