Stress and Neutrophil Function
Abstract
The primary goal of our research is to investigate the effects of stress during and after a military medical field exercise on neutrophil functions, including cells' ability to migrate, adhere, and undergo respiratory bursts. The relationships among adrenal hormones, stress, and neutrophil function will also be investigated. The exercise, called Bushmaster, is required of all fourth year medical students at USUHS and is held three times each year. Our strategy is to assess stress and neutrophil activity from several Bushmaster sessions and combine the data across a two-year period. This study involves measurement of neutrophil migration of FMLP, adherence, and oxidative burst capacity in medical students as a result of their participation in simulated field medical operations. Two studies of samples of medical students before, during, and after the exercise have been completed, and findings from these studies suggest that the experience of the exercise was associated with decreases in neutrophil adherence but did not produce any changes in cell migration to a chemoattractant or in ability to undergo oxidative bursts. However, several logistical and assay problems arose during these studies; though these studies allowed us to resolve these problems, the data from the first two studies must be viewed cautiously. Keywords: N-formal-methionyl- leuccyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) Polymorphonuclear granulocytes, FMLP stimulants, chemotaxis culture media.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 10, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA207073
Entities
People
- Andrew Baum
- Charles Bowles
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences