Stress Causes Reduced Natural Killer Activity in Mice

Abstract
The natural killer (NK) activity of spleen cells from C57B1/10 mice subjected to standardized stress conditions was reduced when compared with that of untreated controls. Both the total number of nucleated spleen cells and their cytotoxic activity against an NK-sensitive target were reduced. The reduction appeared after induction of stress, and the NK activity was reduced throughout an 8-day stress period.