Fig. 6.

β-adrenergic antagonism prevented social defeat induced IL-6 production and attenuated social defeat-induced glucocorticoid insensitivity. Spleen cells were harvested from socially defeated (SDR) or home cage control (HCC) mice treated with vehicle or propranolol, stimulated with LPS, and 18 h later IL-6 was quantified from collected supernatants by ELISA. 48 h later GC insensitivity, defined as high cell viability in the presence of increased concentrations of corticosterone, was determined. SDR mice (closed square) demonstrate GC insensitivity compared to control groups (open square & circle). Cell viability was decreased in socially defeated mice treated with propranolol (closed circle). Lines represent the mean ± SEM (n = 9). *p < 0.05 vs. HCC vehicle treated mice; **p < 0.05 vs. SDR vehicle treated mice.