Objective and design: To characterize the effects of swim stress on the early mast cell (MC)-dependent peritoneal production of TNF in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration in mice, identifying the neuroendocrine mediators involved.
Subjects: Ten to twelve-week-old Swiss Webster, C57BL/6 J or c-Kit (Wsh/Wsh) mice were used.
Treatment: Animals were intraperitoneally challenged with LPS at different times after forced swimming (FS) and peak TNF production was determined in peritoneal washes at optimal time after LPS administration. Selective blockage of main neuroendocrine pathways was performed before swim stress.
Methods: TNF concentrations were determined by ELISA.
Results: FS provoked an immediate and transient inhibition of LPS-elicited, MC-dependent TNF accumulation in peritoneum, which lasted around 30 min. Suppresive effects of FS were absent on MC-deficient c-Kit (Wsh/Wsh) mice but were recovered after reconstitution with MC. Adrenalectomy or DSP4 administration increased basal ip TNF levels and enhanced LPS-induced TNF release without any effect on stress-induced inhibitory effects, mifepristone did not produce any change on stress-induced inhibition, whereas mecamylamine administration increased basals and attenuated stress effects.
Conclusions: Swim stress transiently inhibits the canonical MC-dependent response of TNF production in response to LPS in murine peritoneal cavity with the main participation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex.