Lung delayed-type hypersensitivity in stressed mice.

The influence of an immobilization stressor on lung cellular immune responses was studied. Delayed-type hypersensitivity to sheep erythrocytes was used to evaluate in vivo lung cellular immunity. Mice were sensitized intravenously and challenged intratracheally with sheep erythrocytes. Three hours prior to challenge all mice were injected intravenously with chromium-51 labeled mononuclear cells from syngeneic mice. The delayed-type hypersensitivity response was measured by counting the radioactivity within the lung 48 hours after challenge. Immobilization for 2.5 hours immediately before challenge suppressed lung delayed-type hypersensitivity. Adrenalectomy abolished the immobilization-induced decrease in delayed-type hypersensitivity. These data indicate an adrenal gland involvement in stress-induced decreases in lung cellular immune reactions.