Stress and Immunity

It is well known that immunological functions are influenced by stressors . Psychological stressors influence also usual behaviors such as eating, sleep and exercise . In this paper, we report effects of emotional behavior, restriction, sleep deprivation or nutrition on immunological functions using animal model. Using mature cats which were implanted electrode in hypothalamus, emotional behaviors such as attack and retreat were elicited by stimulation of the hypothalamus. T cell mitogen responses were significantly increased with attack, but decreased with retreat . Chemotactic activity of macrophages and number of peripheral white blood cells were almost 50% decreased by 24 hr restriction. Chemotactic activity of macrophages was suppressed by injection of ACTH at dose dependent manner in mice. Sleep deprivation for 3 days suppressed several immune functions in rats. (NZB •~ NZW) Fl autoimmune-prone mice which were used for animal models of systemic lupus erythematosus were compared under the influence of different calorie intakes and different calorie sources. When the energy intake was reduced to 60 % of the intake of high calorie groups , survival was doubled in fat diet group and tripled in carbohydrate diet group compared to that of high calorie groups. Immunological functions were well maintained in low calorie groups. These results indicate that immunological functions are influenced by various stressors . It depends on the period, degree and method of stressors.