[Lectin-inducible cell cytotoxicity and the production of the cytotoxic factor of natural killer cells during immobilization stress in mice].

Mice exposed to immobilization stress manifested a dramatic lowering of the activity of normal killers against YAC-1 tumor as well as against the lectin-induced cellular cytotoxicity mediated by Helix pomatia agglutinin and detected by the cytolytic test against xenogeneic tumor cells K 562. Exposure to stress did not provoke any change in the production of cytotoxic factor of normal killers, whereas dexamethasone (5 X 10(-7) M) in vitro inhibited the production of this factor.