High-Temperature Effects on Antibody Response to Viral Antigen in Mice

• Published in: Experimental Animals Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 9 - 14
• Main Authors: YAMAMOTO, Shoji, ANDO, Mitsuru, SUZUKI, Eiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Japanese Association for Laboratory Animal Science 1999
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Viral - biosynthesis; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antibody Formation; antibody response; Body Temperature; Body Weight; corticosterone; Corticosterone - blood; high temperature; Hot Temperature; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; mouse; Organ Size; Respirovirus - immunology; Respirovirus Infections - immunology; Respirovirus Infections - physiopathology; Spleen - physiopathology; Thymus Gland - physiopathology; Time Factors; viral antigen
• ISSN: 1341-1357; 1881-7122
• DOI: 10.1538/expanim.48.9

To determine the effects of high-temperature exposure on antibody response to viral antigen in mice, male BALB/c mice were placed for 13 days in animal chambers at 23°C, 32°C, and 35.5°C. Rectal temperature rose from 37°C to 39°C on day 1 in a 35.5°C environment. The rectal temperature was kept constant throughout the exposure period. The IgG-antibody to Sendai virus (SV) antigen was inhibited to about 50% of the control value (23°C). The serum corticosterone concentration indicating thermal stress increased steadily, peaking on day 1 and then gradually decreased and recovered to the normal level on day 13. Body weight decreased to about 72% of the controls on day 13. Thymus and spleen weight decreased to 31.7% and 61.5% respectively. At 32°C, these effects were less than at 35.5°C. Effects of high-temperature exposure at 35.5°C appeared to noticeably decrease thymus and spleen weight. It is clear that IgG-antibody response to SV antigen is suppresed by high-temperature exposure.