Restraint-induced modulation of allergic and irritant contact dermatitis in male and female B6.129 mice

Recent studies in rats have indicated that acute restraint enhances cutaneo us hypersensitivity. We hypothesized that acute restraint would also modula te the development of allergic and irritant dermatitis in mice and that the se restraint-induced changes would be reflected in the cutaneous cytokine p rofile and be gender-specific. For these studies, male and female B6.129 mi ce were sensitized and challenged with the contact sensitizer dinitrofluoro benzene or challenged with the irritant croton oil. Two-hour restraint was applied prior to chemical challenge. Restraint combined with chemical incre ased ear swelling in both genders in ACD, a change that was blocked by admi nistration of RU-486 prior to restraint. Neither restraint nor RU-486 admin istration modulated development of ICD; however, IL-1 beta was decreased by restraint in females only. TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma production were modifie d in ACD; TNF-alpha in both genders and IFN-gamma in female mice only. Our data demonstrate that acute restraint increases serum corticosterone in B6. 129 male and female mice to comparable levels. Restraint modulated the muri ne ear swelling in ACD, but not ICD, in both genders, and the change in the ear swelling response and cytokine production were, at least in part, cort icosterone-dependent. (C) 2000 Academic Press.