Social stress in laboratory rats Rattus norvegicus results in decreased immune competence of the offspring

An immune system status of socially stressed laboratory rats Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769 and their offsprings was studied. Several tests on activity of the macrophages and lymphocytes as well as on the tumour necrosis factor a (TNFa) activity in the blood serum were used to assess an immune system status of the stressed and control groups of rats. The results indicated that social stress led to obvious alterations in the immune system of the stressed rats and especially of their offspring, where the changes were more pronounced.