Corticosteroid and immune responses of mice following mini-osmotic pump implantation.

Serum corticosteroid (CS) levels were measured in (B6xA)F1 mice following the implantation of ALZET mini-osmotic pumps. Studies of shipment stress were used as a basis for comparison. At 24 and 48 h following the implantation of pumps CS levels were moderately elevated. However, immunization of animals at 24 h postsurgery with sheep erythrocytes showed normal immune responses. The results of these experiments indicate that the use of mini-osmotic pumps for the delivery of immunomodulatory drugs induces moderate and short-term increases in CS levels, which do not appear to interfere with normal immune function.