Abstract

SIACHOQUE, Heber et al. Effect of Stress Caused by Academic Tests on Cortisol and Prolactine Levels in a Group of Medical Students. Rev. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2006, vol.4, n.1, pp.18-30. ISSN 1692-7273.

Introduction: The relationship between immunological system and stress has been debated in the last years. Neurohormonal changes produce immunologic response variations with major changes in the cytokines levels, causing depression of the cytolytic responses due to a decrease in the NK (Natural Killer) cells population (1). Academic stress is a useful stress model to study hormonal changes in the Hypotalamic-Pituitary- Adrenocortical (HPA) axis (2, 3). Materials and Methods: The present study evaluates the behavior of cortisol and prolactine hormones and their effect on the adaptative responses of Herpes Simplex Virus type I in a population of 26 medical students with ages between 14 and 27 years. Male students represented 80.8% of the evaluated population. This is a three stage longitudinal intervention study where antibodies, cortisol and prolactin levels were measured against Herpes Simplex Virus type I. The first measure was done 15 days previous to the stressful event, the second during the stressful event (mid-academic period exams) and the last one, 15 days posterior to the stressful event. All samples were taken from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. Results and Discussion: Prolactine average values were found to be significantly different (p < 0.001) when comparing the three stages. Cortisol values changes were near showing significant differences (p = 0.098), with an increase during the stressful event and a decrease after the exposure. Antibodies levels of Herpes Simplex Virus type I showed a significant difference (p = 0.043) increasing tendency in the three stages. Adaptative responses to Herpes Simplex Virus type I augmented as a result of prolactine concentration increase due to a stressor event exposure. This explains an increment in the cytotoxic cell activity (NK cells) which increment cytokine concentration, such as INF-α, which amplify humoral IgG antibody mediated response, according with obtained results. Even though cortisol levels do not significantly increased during the stressful event exposure, they could be enough to maintain basal prolactine levels without an adaptative response. It can be inferred that cortisol regulates the prolactine synthesis. Results show that when cortisol concentration decreases, prolactine levels significantly increase.

Keywords : Glucocortocoids; Herpes Simplex virus type 1; cytokines; Interferon gamma; inmunomodulation.

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