Figure 5. A low-stress vacation is required to allow adaptation to a stressful week.

Protein levels for GR, PXR, CYP3A4 and TAT, as well as free blood cortisol, were simulated over 21 days following addition of repeat spikes of cortisol, such that each spike doubled the free blood cortisol concentration. Cortisol spikes were applied 1 per day for either continuous throughout the period (grey line), with a weekend break (black line) or a 9-day vacation (dashed line).