Serum factor(s) induced by restraint stress in mice and rats suppresses lymphocyte proliferation.

LACA mice were individually restrained in a specially made cylindrical cage for 10-20 h at room temperature (20 degrees C). Serum obtained from stressed mice was found to suppress normal mouse lymphocyte proliferation induced by concanavalin A, suggesting the presence of a suppressive factor(s) in the stressed serum. Adrenalectomy or injections of naltrexone (1, 10, or 20 mg/kg, ip), just prior to and in the middle of the stress period, did not affect the suppressive activity of serum from mice. However, the suppressive activity was totally abolished by general anesthesia with urethane (1.5 g/kg, ip). These results suggest that adrenal hormones and opiate receptors are not involved in the generation of the suppressive factor(s) and that the central nervous system plays a very important role in this process. SD rats were restrained in a supine position for 20 h at room temperature (20 degrees C) and serum from stressed rats was also found to be able to suppress normal mouse lymphocyte proliferation. A further analysis of "stressed serum" indicated that the suppressive factor(s) was heat stable (56 degrees C, 30 min) and acid stable (pH 3.8), but sensitive to 100 degrees C (3 min), an organic solvent (greater than 60% methanol), and proteinases (trypsin and chymotrypsin). From the measurement of gel filtration (HPLC), the molecular weights of the suppressive factor(s) were 155 and 370 kDa. Taken together, these results indicate that the suppressive factor(s) is a protein with a large molecular weight.