Felsburg P J, Keyes L L, Krawiec D R, Rubin S I
Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 1986 Sep;13(1-2):63-70. doi: 10.1016/0165-2427(86)90049-8.
The in vitro response of canine peripheral blood lymphocytes to mitogenic stimulation was evaluated following general anesthesia for a relatively minor diagnostic procedure. A marked suppression in the blastogenic response to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A was observed 4 hours postinduction which persisted through the first 24 hours and was normal by 4 days. A mild suppression to stimulation with pokeweed mitogen was observed at 4 hours postinduction but the response was back to normal by 24 hours. These results suggest general anesthesia has a transient immunosuppressive effect on canine lymphocytes and T cells are more susceptible to the immunosuppressive effect than B cells.
