A prospective study of neuroendocrine and immune alterations associated with the stress of an oral academic examination among graduate students

Stressful experiences may influence neuroendocrine, immune and cytokine fun ctioning, as well as physical and psychological well being. The present pro spective investigation assessed physiological and behavioral variations in anticipation of a critical oral academic examination among graduate student s (i.e. related to a dissertation or comprehensive defense). Relative to ma tched control subjects, plasma cortisol levels were elevated among graduate students, especially females, 1 h prior to the oral examination, but not 6 -8 weeks earlier (at about the time of the submission of the written docume nt). In contrast, mitogen-stimulated (Con-A) lymphocyte proliferation was o nly reduced 6-8 weeks before the examination. Neither adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), prolactin, serum interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) nor mitogen stimulated IL-1 beta production was influenced at any time. Although, grad uate students did not differ from controls with respect to perceived stress and feelings of mastery, they reported more frequent malaise (e.g. headach es, sore throat, fatigue) than did controls. The present findings suggest t hat during the course of lengthy anticipatory periods preceding a scheduled stressor, different stress-sensitive, situation-dependent biological proce sses may be engendered. It is further suggested that cortisol release is mo st closely aligned with immediate threats, while the immune alterations are sensitive to more distal events, or are subject to adaptation in response to a protracted stressor. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.