An endocrinology laboratory exercise demonstrating the effect of confinement stress on the immune system of mice

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Brehe ◽  
Amy L. Way
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Laboratory Exercise ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Confinement Stress ◽  
Basic Protocol ◽  
Response To Stress ◽  
Entire Experiment ◽  
White Blood Cell Counts ◽  
Differential White Blood Cell

This article describes a simple laboratory exercise for examining the effect of stress on the immune system in mice. Mice are subjected to confinement stress for 1 h, after which a sample of blood is collected via the caudal vein. Blood samples are smeared onto microscope slides, air dried, and stained with Wright's Giemsa stain. When differential white blood cell counts are performed, there are noticeable differences between the neutrophil and lymphocyte counts of stressed versus control mice. The protocol is simple enough for students to perform, and the entire experiment can be completed within 3 h. Examples of ways in which the basic protocol can be modified to accommodate a shorter laboratory class are provided. This hands-on laboratory experiment provides students with experience using the scientific method to investigate the interaction between the endocrine and immune systems in response to stress.

scholarly journals Distribution of leukocyte subpopulation among students threatened by failure

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 3807-3812
Author(s):  
Aziez Chettoum ◽  
Kamilia Guedri ◽  
Zouhir Djerrou ◽  
Rachid Mosbah ◽  
Latifa Khattabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Significant Development ◽  
Biological Assays ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Student Volunteers ◽  
White Blood Cell Counts ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
The Brain

Psychoneuroimmunology or the study of the relationships between the brain and the immune system is an area of research that has experienced significant development over the decade. Stress does not appear without consequences on the state of health, the role of fears, emotions and significant constraints in the appearance of organic and mental diseases. In this research, we studied the effect of stress and anxiety during exams at the end of the academic year (2018/2019) on the distribution of leukocyte subpopulations and the immune system, questionnaires has been completed by student volunteers, to estimate the anxio-depressive comorbidities through the (HADS) test during and outside exams, and in the same time we asked them for a blood sample the next morning day to carry out some biological assays (CBC). We also found that stress during exams caused a change in the distribution of different types of white blood cells, a total decrease in white blood cell counts with neutropenia and lymphopenia were found in students during exams compared to controls, and an increase in monocyte and other types of polymorphonuclear levels in students during exams compared to controls. Other tests measuring the effects of stress on specific functions of the immune system can be used.

Clinical assessment of blood leukocytes, serum cytokines, and serum immunoglobulins as responses to sleep deprivation in laboratory rats

2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (4) ◽  
pp. R1054-R1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol A. Everson
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Mononuclear Phagocytes ◽  
Blood Leukocytes ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Serum Cytokines ◽  
Cytokines And Chemokines ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
White Blood Cell Counts ◽  
Differential White Blood Cell

The specific systems and mechanisms affected by sleep deprivation that may perpetuate disease processes in humans still are speculative. In laboratory rats, prolonged sleep deprivation induces a state marked by abnormal control over indigenous bacteria that results in transient infections of internal tissues and eventual lethal septicemia. The present studies investigated changes in blood, serum, and bone marrow parameters that may provide diagnostic clues to immunopathology. Prolonged sleep deprivation was produced in rats by the disk-over-water method, a well-established and selective means that does not interfere with normal waking behaviors. Measurements included bone and blood differential white blood cell counts, multiple serum cytokines and chemokines, several major Ig classes and subclasses, and serum endotoxin concentrations. The results indicated mild, regenerative neutrophilia in sleep-deprived rats, initially accompanied by immature neutrophils and later by monocytosis. The corresponding serum cytokine profile revealed an evolving proinflammatory state, particularly by high incidence of interleukin-1β, implicating mononuclear phagocytes and resident tissue cells as main intermediary sources. In addition, multiple serum Ig classes were increased by sleep deprivation without experimental administration of an exogenous antigen. Despite this immune activation, there was failure to eradicate invading bacteria and toxins, suggesting competing anti-inflammatory processes or interference with immune effector functions during sleep deprivation. Nearly all of the immune-related events that emerged as responses to sleep deprivation have been implicated as etiological or provocative factors in other disease processes and may provide means by which sleep deprivation as a risk factor in disease may become understood.

A Method for Optimizing and Validating Institution-Specific Flagging Criteria for Automated Cell Counters

2010 ◽  
Vol 134 (10) ◽  
pp. 1528-1533
Author(s):  
Anthony Sireci ◽  
Robert Schlaberg ◽  
Alexander Kratz
Keyword(s):  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
White Blood Cell ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Youden Index ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Blood Cell Counts ◽  
White Blood Cell Counts ◽  
Differential White Blood Cell

Abstract Context.—Automated cell counters use alerts (flags) to indicate which differential white blood cell counts can be released directly from the instrument and which samples require labor-intensive slide reviews. The thresholds at which many of these flags are triggered can be adjusted by individual laboratories. Many users, however, use factory-default settings or adjust the thresholds through a process of trial and error. Objective.—To develop a systematic method, combining statistical analysis and clinical judgment, to optimize the flagging thresholds on automated cell counters. Design.—Data from 502 samples flagged by Sysmex XE-2100/5000 (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan) instruments, with at least 1 of 5 user-adjustable, white blood cell count flags, were used to change the flagging thresholds for maximal diagnostic effectiveness by optimizing the Youden index for each flag (the optimization set). The optimized thresholds were then validated with a second set of 378 samples (the validation set). Results.—Use of the new thresholds reduced the review rate caused by the 5 flags from 6.5% to 2.9% and improved the positive predictive value of the flagging system for any abnormality from 27% to 37%. Conclusions.—This method can be used to optimize thresholds for flag alerts on automated cell counters of any type and to improve the overall positive predictive value of the flagging system at the expense of a reduction in the negative predictive value. A reduced manual review rate helps to focus resources on differential white blood cell counts that are of clinical significance and may improve turnaround time.

scholarly journals Lactobacillus equigenerosi Strain Le1 Invades Equine Epithelial Cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 4248-4255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlie Botha ◽  
Marelize Botes ◽  
Ben Loos ◽  
Carine Smith ◽  
Leon M. T. Dicks
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
White Blood Cell ◽  
Cell Surface Hydrophobicity ◽  
Surface Hydrophobicity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Buccal Epithelial Cells ◽  
White Blood Cell Counts ◽  
Differential White Blood Cell

ABSTRACTLactobacillus equigenerosistrain Le1, a natural inhabitant of the equine gastrointestinal tract, survived pH 3.0 and incubation in the presence of 1.5% (wt/vol) bile salts for at least 2 h. Strain Le1 showed 8% cell surface hydrophobicity, 60% auto-aggregation, and 47% coaggregation withClostridium difficileC6. Only 1% of the cells adhered to viable buccal epithelial cells and invaded the cells within 20 min after contact. Preincubation of strain Le1 in a buffer containing pronase prevented adhesion to viable epithelial cells. Preincubation in a pepsin buffer delayed invasion from 20 min to 1 h. Strain Le1 did not adhere to nonviable epithelial cells. Administration ofL. equigenerosiLe1 (1 × 109CFU per 50 kg body weight) to healthy horses did not increase white blood cell numbers. Differential white blood cell counts and aspartate aminotransferase levels remained constant. Glucose, lactate, cholesterol, and urea levels remained constant during administration withL. equigenerosiLe1 but decreased during the week after administration.

White blood cell counts in house sparrows (Passer domesticus) before and after moult and after testosterone treatment

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Paz Nava ◽  
José Pablo Veiga ◽  
Marisa Puerta
Keyword(s):  
Blood Cell ◽  
White Blood Cell ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Before And After ◽  
White Blood Cell Counts ◽  
Differential White Blood Cell

In this study two experiments were run in parallel. To evaluate the possible influence of moult and age on differential white blood cell (WBC) counts, we captured juvenile and adult house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and housed them in outdoor aviaries. Blood was collected twice, before and after moult. Numbers of basophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes were higher in juveniles than in adults, whereas numbers of eosinophilic cells were similar in the two age groups. Moult induced an increase in basophils and monocytes in both juveniles and adults. This indicates that moult and age impose different immunological challenges on house sparrows. To evaluate the effect of testosterone on differential WBC counts, some house sparrows in aviaries received testosterone during the moult period. Testosterone administration reduced, though not significantly, the number of all WBC types in juveniles, and therefore appeared to have an nonspecific effect. However, the number of lymphocytes increased only in adults, which suggests a specific effect on this cell type in this age group.

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