Altered lymphocyte catecholamine reactivity in mice subjected to chronic mild stress.

There is considerable evidence that the sympathetic nervous system influences the immune response via activation and modulation of beta(2)-adrenergic receptors (beta(2)R). Furthermore, it has been suggested that stress has effects on the sympathetic nervous system. In the present study, we analyzed the influence of catecholamines on the reactivity of lymphocytes from mice exposed to a chronic mild stress (CMS) model of depression (CMS-animals).

Altered expression of autonomic neurotransmitter receptors and proliferative responses in lymphocytes from a chronic mild stress model of depression: effects of fluoxetine.

We studied beta-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptor (MR) expression and proliferative response in lymphocytes from animals under chronic mild stress (CMS) model of depression (CMS animals). Animals were subjected to CMS (periods of food or water deprivation, changes in lighting conditions, tilted cage, etc.) for 12 weeks.