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Secretory immunoglobulin A and cardiovascular reactions to mental arithmetic, cold pressor, and exercise: Effects of beta-adrenergic blockade

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 1999

ALEXANDRA WINZER
Affiliation:
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
CHRISTOPHER RING
Affiliation:
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
DOUGLAS CARROLL
Affiliation:
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
GONNEKE WILLEMSEN
Affiliation:
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
MARK DRAYSON
Affiliation:
Department of Immunology, University of Birmingham, UK
MARTIN KENDALL
Affiliation:
Clinical Investigation Unit, University of Birmingham, UK
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Abstract

We investigated the influence of sympathetic nervous system processes on mucosal immunity by comparing the effects of beta-adrenoceptor blockade with 40 mg propranolol and placebo on secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) at rest and during paced serial arithmetic, cold pressor, and submaximal cycling. These tasks produced patterns of cardiovascular activity indicative of combined alpha- and beta-adrenergic, alpha-adrenergic, and beta-adrenergic activation, respectively. The effectiveness of the beta blockade was confirmed by the attenuation under propranolol of the shortening of the cardiac preejection period and the tachycardia elicited by mental arithmetic and exercise. The cold pressor test did not affect sIgA under either the placebo or the propranolol. Mental arithmetic increased sIgA concentration, and this increase was not blocked by propranolol. Exercise elicited increases in both sIgA concentration and sIgA secretion rate, which were not diminished by beta blockade. These data suggest that sIgA is not regulated by beta-adrenergic mechanisms.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1999 Society for Psychophysiological Research

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