Fig. 1. Effects of endotoxin.

WBC counts a, plasma TNF-alpha b, IL-6 c, body temperature d, as well as euthymia e, dysthymia f, and physical sickness symptoms g were repeatedly measured at baseline and up to 6 h post injection of endotoxin (LPS, 0.8 ng/kg body weight) or saline (placebo). LPS administration led to significant increases in WBC counts, plasma IL-6, salivary cortisol, body temperature, indicating a systemic immune activation, as well as to reduced euthymia and increases in dysthymia and the number and intensity of physical sickness symptoms. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001; results of Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc paired t-tests. For ANOVA results, see text. STADI State Trait Anxiety and Depression Inventory; GASE General-Assessment-of-Side-Effects questionnaire