Repeated restraint and isolation stress alters adrenal and lymphocyte functions and some leukocyte differentiation antigens in lambs.

Lambs were used to evaluate the effect of repeated restraint and isolation stress (RIS) on secretion of cortisol, lymphocyte proliferative responses to mitogens, production of interleukin-2, and expression of leukocyte differentiation antigens. Differentiation antigens evaluated included cluster of differentiation antigens 2, 4, and 8 (CD2, CD4, and CD8, respectively); B cells; and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, DQ, and DR. Lambs were assigned to either control (CON; n = 12) or to RIS treatment (n = 12) then were stanchioned in environmentally controlled rooms at 18 degrees C and constant light for 11 d before jugular vein catheters were inserted on d 0 of the experiment. On d 12, 13, and 14, lambs in the RIS treatment were removed to another location, restrained, and isolated from visual and tactile contact with other lambs for 6 h on each day. Following the 6-h stress treatment, lambs were returned to their home stanchions. The CON lambs remained in their stanchions. Samples of serum were obtained from all lambs, beginning before RIS (0 h) and at .5-h intervals until the completion of stress (6 h) on d 12 and 14. In addition, samples of whole blood were obtained at 0 and 6 h on d 12, 13, and 14 for evaluation of immune function characteristics. Fitted polynomial curves describing the cortisol response in RIS and CON lambs differed (P less than .005) on both d 12 and 14, reflecting the unmistakable increase in cortisol in response to the stressor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)