Antibody Response to Bovine Serum Albumin in Mice: The Effects of Psychosocial Environmental Change

Abstract

The effects of psychosocial environmental change upon circulating antibody response to antigenic challenge was investigated in CBA/USC mice. Mice were reared in isolation and selected groups were subsequently exposed to psychosocial stimulation. Antibody titers of mice that remained in isolation were significantly higher than the titers of mice exposed to psychosocial stimulation. One group of mice exposed to psychosocial stimulation and then returned to isolation showed titers significantly below those of mice exposed to psychosocial stimulation only. These data indicate that psychosocial environmental changes can be productive of significant suppression of antibody formation in mice.