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The oncolytic potential of measles vaccine virus (MeV) has been demonstrated in several tumor entities. Here, we investigated the susceptibility of eight sarcoma cell lines to MeV-mediated oncolysis and found five to be susceptible, whereas three proved to be resistant. In the

Stress in pregnant rats alters the pattern of secretion of corticosterone (COR) and modifies transplacentally hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) fetus. Prenatal stress during the critical hypothalamic differentiation is related to decreased fertility of male offspring by an increase in the basal level of COR. This modification could induce long-term changes in the process of apoptosis in the testis. However, early postnatal handling increases maternal behavior and could reverse the effects caused by increased secretion of COR. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of early postnatal stimulation of male rats prenatal stressed by chronic immobilization during the last two weeks of pregnancy, on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and their relationship with the activity of the HPA. Male Wistar rats 3 month olds, were separated in four groups: (a) prenatally stressed animals by immobilization (IMO), without postnatal stimulation; (b) prenatally stressed animals with postnatal stimulation; (c) control animals without prenatal stress, without postnatal stimulation and (d) control animals without prenatal stress, with postnatal stimulation. In different animals groups plasmatic levels of COR, Testosterone (T) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) were analyzed. Gonadosomatic index and testicular apoptosis was determined. In conclusion that prenatal stress by IMO increased levels of COR and inhibits the HHG axis obtaining low values of plasmatic LH and T, testicular weight, and induction of apoptosis in testes. On other hand, early postnatal stimulation results in an increase in maternal care to the offspring reversing the effects of prenatal stress on the HPG axis. This effect could be mediated by a mechanism independent of the HPA axis.

The present study investigated the influence of immobilization prenatal stress on adult male rats, with the same postnatal stress, on the immune parameters and its relation with plasma corticosterone (COR) and glucose levels. To study the immunity parameters, profiles of the leucocytes, size of spleen and number of the mononuclear cells of this organ were determined. Basal levels of COR and glucose were higher in prenatally stressed animals. When the adult animals were exposed to immobilization stress, COR increased but the increase was less than that for the control group, and glucose was equal in both groups. Although postnatal acute stress decreased the number of leucocytes and lymphocytes and increased the number of neutrophils, the effect was lower in prenatally stressed animals; for that reason, the ratio neutrophil/lymphocyte increased less. The number of mononuclear cells were higher in the spleen of prenatally stressed animals. This effect was probably due to retention of blood lymphocytes in the spleen. There seemed to be an alteration in the redistribution of leucocytes, both in basal conditions and under postnatal stress. The alteration of the immunological function may be partly due to an alteration in the functionality of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, which was hyperactive in basal conditions but appeared to suffer habituation to the same stress.

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