Discuss the relationship between steroid hormones, stress, and the immune system
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Everyone experiences stress at some time in his or her life, and stress can influence immune function. Immune systems can be negatively affected by specific hormones that"communicate" stress to the body. For example, under stress, glucocorticoids are produced at higher rates. High levels of glucocorticoids affect energy metabolism, decreasing nonessential energetic demands by decreasing protein synthesis. Higher steroid levels thus reduce the synthesis of proteins required for immune responses, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines. A study of marine iguanas found that dominant males in the hierarchy who were constantly defending their territories had high levels of corticosterone but weaker immune responses compared to males lower on the hierarchy with low levels of corticosterone, but stronger immune systems.
You might also like to view...
Shedding of the endometrial lining occurs
A. because the nondominant follicles undergo atresia. B. a day after the LH surge. C. because of an increase in the level of FSH. D. because ovulation disrupts the growing follicle. E. as a result of a fall in plasma levels of estradiol and progesterone.
During implantation, the
A) trophoblast erodes a path through the endometrium. B) inner cell mass begins to form the placenta. C) maternal blood vessels in the endometrium are walled off from the blastocyst. D) entire trophoblast becomes syncytial. E) inner cell mass is temporarily deprived of nutrients.
Parasympathetic ganglia are called ____ ganglia
A. pelvic B. chain C. collateral D. terminal E. dorsal
The ________ is composed of an endothelium and a subendothelial layer made up of a thin layer of areolar connective tissue.
A. tunica intima B. tunica externa C. tunica media D. tunica adventitia E. None of the answers is correct.