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Photoperiodic adjustments in immune function protect Siberian hamsters from lethal endotoxemia.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Prendergast, BJ; Hotchkiss, AK; Bilbo, SD; Kinsey, SG; Nelson, RJ
Published in: Journal of biological rhythms
February 2003

Seasonal changes in day length enhance or suppress components of immune function in individuals of several mammalian species. Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) exhibit multiple changes in neuroendocrine, reproductive, and immune function after exposure to short days. The manner in which these changes are integrated into the host response to pathogens is not well understood. The present experiments tested the hypothesis that short-day changes in immune function alter the pathogenesis of septic shock and survival after challenge with endotoxin. Male and female Siberian hamsters raised in long-day photoperiods were transferred as adults to short days or remained in their natal photoperiod. Six to 8 weeks later, hamsters were injected i.p. with 0, 1, 2.5, 10, 25, or 50 mg/kg bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (the biologically active constituent of endotoxin), and survival was monitored for 96 h. Short days significantly improved survival of male hamsters treated with 10 or 25 mg/kg LPS and improved survival in females treated with 50 mg/kg LPS. Transfer from long to short days shifted the LD50 in males by approximately 90%, from 5.3 to 9.9 mg/kg, and in females from 11.1 to 15.0 mg/kg (+35%). Long-day females were more resistant than were males to lethal endotoxemia. In vitro production of the proinflammatory cytokine TNFalpha in response to LPS stimulation was significantly lower in macrophages extracted from short-day relative to long-day hamsters, as were circulating concentrations of TNFalpha in vivo after i.p. administration of LPS, suggesting that diminished cytokine responses to LPS in short days may mitigate the lethality of endotoxemia. Adaptation to short days induces changes in immune parameters that affect survival in the face of immune challenges.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of biological rhythms

DOI

EISSN

1552-4531

ISSN

0748-7304

Publication Date

February 2003

Volume

18

Issue

1

Start / End Page

51 / 62

Related Subject Headings

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Testis
  • Survival Analysis
  • Spleen
  • Shock, Septic
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Photoperiod
  • Phodopus
  • Organ Size
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
 

Citation

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MLA
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Prendergast, B. J., Hotchkiss, A. K., Bilbo, S. D., Kinsey, S. G., & Nelson, R. J. (2003). Photoperiodic adjustments in immune function protect Siberian hamsters from lethal endotoxemia. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 18(1), 51–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/0748730402239676
Prendergast, Brian J., Andrew K. Hotchkiss, Staci D. Bilbo, Steven G. Kinsey, and Randy J. Nelson. “Photoperiodic adjustments in immune function protect Siberian hamsters from lethal endotoxemia.Journal of Biological Rhythms 18, no. 1 (February 2003): 51–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/0748730402239676.
Prendergast BJ, Hotchkiss AK, Bilbo SD, Kinsey SG, Nelson RJ. Photoperiodic adjustments in immune function protect Siberian hamsters from lethal endotoxemia. Journal of biological rhythms. 2003 Feb;18(1):51–62.
Prendergast, Brian J., et al. “Photoperiodic adjustments in immune function protect Siberian hamsters from lethal endotoxemia.Journal of Biological Rhythms, vol. 18, no. 1, Feb. 2003, pp. 51–62. Epmc, doi:10.1177/0748730402239676.
Prendergast BJ, Hotchkiss AK, Bilbo SD, Kinsey SG, Nelson RJ. Photoperiodic adjustments in immune function protect Siberian hamsters from lethal endotoxemia. Journal of biological rhythms. 2003 Feb;18(1):51–62.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of biological rhythms

DOI

EISSN

1552-4531

ISSN

0748-7304

Publication Date

February 2003

Volume

18

Issue

1

Start / End Page

51 / 62

Related Subject Headings

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Testis
  • Survival Analysis
  • Spleen
  • Shock, Septic
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Photoperiod
  • Phodopus
  • Organ Size
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery