Synthesis of HSP70 in blood leukocytes as a marker of stress resistance during adaptation

Abstract  The effect of preadaptation to non-damaging emotional stress on the synthesis of HSP70 (stress-limiting factor) in peripheral blood leukocytes was studied in experiments on August and Wistar rats characterized by different sensitivity of the gastric mucosa to stress-induced injury. It was found that preadaptation improves stress resistance of Wistar rats characterized by lower innate resistance to acute mental stress and activates HSP70 synthesis in blood leukocytes. In August rats characterized by higher resistance to acute stress, adaptation reduced the resistance to stress-induced injuries, which was accompanied by the absence of activation of HSP70 synthesis in leukocytes compared to the level observed in nonadapted rats during acute stress. Thus, the intensity of HSP70 synthesis in peripheral blood leukocytes can serve as a marker of changes in animal resistance to acute stress caused by adaptation to non-damaging stress exposures and probably to other environmental factors.