Chronic Individual Housing-Induced Stress Decreased Expression of Catecholamine Biosynthetic Enzyme Genes and Proteins in Spleen of Adult Rats

Abstract

These results suggest that increased plasma catecholamines and decreased gene expression and protein levels of catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes in the spleen of chronically individually housed animals might reduce catecholamine synthesis, thus leaving the immunocompetent tissues depleted of catecholamines and consequently leading to an impairment of immune response.