Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of prenatal stress and handling on immune system cell
distribution and lymphocyte T proliferation in adult Albino Wistar male rats. Prenatal stressed (PS) offspring by
immobilization (IMO) were handled during the first week of life. Animals of both treatments were acute IMO
stressed. Blood was extracted from 0 to 330 min, and counting of white blood cells, leucocyte subpopulations
and levels of corticosterone (COR) were made. Lymphocyte T spleen proliferation was determined. COR,
leucocyte, lymphocyte and neutrophil profiles and lymphocyte T proliferation were significant different between
prenatal stress and non-handling group and prenatal control and non-handling group, however these responses
were attenuated when animals were handled. In conclusion, early handling revert the effects of PS with
re-exposure to the same postnatal stressor on the activity of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, the dynamic of
leucocyte distribution and the mitogenic response of T lymphocytes.

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