Polovinko I. Pathogenetic features of the immune organs reaction in a setting of chronic stress

The dissertation presents a theoretical substantiation and a new solution to the scientific problem, the essence of which is to study the identification of pathophysiological features of immune responses to chronic stress and their neuroendocrine mechanisms. The gender dimorphism of the immune status of rats both in normal and after chronic immobilization stress was described in detail. It was found that in a setting of chronic stress in rats of both genders, the adrenergic component of regulation with a shift of autonomic balance towards sympathicotonia predominates, at the same time gender dimorphism was manifested in the immune response to stress. According to the results of discriminant analysis, 17 indicators were characteristic of the immunotropic effect of chronic stress in male rats, while only 5 indicators were found in female rats. The correlations between the neuroendocrine and immune systems in rats of both genders in case of stress were first identified, and the individual response of the immune system to chronic stress was demonstrated. The method of factor analysis revealed 4 independent clusters of parameters in male rats and 2 clusters of parameters in female rats of neuroendocrine-immune complex, interconnected by causal functional connectivities. The correlations between the parameters of immunity and neuroendocrine regulation were revealed, which allowed to explain the mechanisms and features of their connections. Thus, the connection strength between the neuroendocrine-immune complex in a setting of chronic stress in the gender aspect indicates the greatest positive factor loading from the thymus mass index, Hassall's bodies of the thymus, microbial neutrophil count and negative - from thymus endothelial cells, eosinophils and plasmocytes of the spleen, phagocytic index of monocytes, triiodothyronine and blood basophils.