Variation in Adrenal Cortical Hormones Within Physiologic Ranges,Stress and Interferon Production in Mice. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Both stress and pharmacologic levels of adrenal cortical hormones have been reported to suppress the synthesis of interferon. We measured interferon in mice 6 hours after intravenous injection of NDV and related interferon titers to plasma corticosterone levels. The stress of repeated random electric shocks preceded by a warning buzzer during interferon production did not alter the response from that of controls; such stress administered for 5 hours prior to virus inoculation significantly enhanced interferon production. Administration of ACTH did not alter interferon response. Corticosterone administration adequate to produce high circulating steroid levels just greater than maximal attainable physiologic levels also did not alter response. All adrenalectomized mice had relatively higher interferon titers; however, neither prior stress nor partial corticosterone replacement therapy in any combination significantly altered interferon production. Administration of the virus itself produced an adrenal response in intact animals not subjected to other exogenous stress as great as that in animals subjected to exogenous stress prior or subsequent to injection of virus.