Stress, Immunity and Cholinergic Systems - In Their Own Words

Pain Code = 4E

Lay Abstract:
Recent finding indicate potent interactions between the brain and the immune system, which have importatnt implications of health. The present investigation will examine these interactions by evaluating the effects of the immune system chemical messengers on an important brain system (basal forebrain cholinerigic system), and the reciprocal effects of this brain system on immune functions. These studies will contribute to our understanding of the role of behaviorally relevant brain systems in the health and disease.

The Mice

The C57BL/6 mouse has been selected because most of the prior literature on this species.

The mice are infected with Influenza A virus, as previously described in protocol 01A0039, Sheridan. Mice will be placed in one of three conditions:

• No stress: Animals will be left in their cage without any manipulations.
• Restrained Stres: Animals will be restrained in a well ventilated 50ml conical tube for as long as 16 hours, for no more than 5 cycles.
• Social Disruption: To disturb the social order in the home cage an aggressive intruder mouse will be introduced in a cage of 3-5 mice. The intruder will be prescreened for aggressive behavior. The intruder is expected to attack cage mates in the first 5-10 minutes, or will be replaced by a new intruder. (These manipulations have already been approved in protocol 01A0039, Sheridan.)

The mice are killed to end the study.

The Rats

Rats will be used for the behavioral performance studies, as considerable information is available on brain mechanisms in this species.

The rats will be trained to bar press and discriminate between signals. Following acquistion of the task, all animals will be equipped with guide cannula for the infusion of cytokines. The cytokine is delivered to the rat and task performance is assessed.

The rats are killed to end the study.