Chronic stressors may induce maladaptive responses leading to psychiatric diseases, such as anxiety and major depression. They alter the normal body homeostasis and hence, lead to the development of various human pathologies, which might involve alterations in the antioxidant defense system. Several reports have proposed that the concentration of secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) in saliva is an indicator of psychological stress. Subjects were undergraduate medical technology students in second and third year attending their midyear exams at King Abdulaziz University. They include twenty-two male students (age range 20-23 years). The blood samples were taken just before a difficult exam (stressful condition). For comparison another sample was taken for the same students but several weeks after examination (natural post condition). Total protein TP, albumin ALB, globulin GLB, albumin to globulin ratio, immunoglobulin G, A, and M in the sera of in adult male students were measured. The results recorded that total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and immunoglobulin G, A, and M (Ig G, A, and M) were significantly higher examination stress students. The study showed that midyear examinations stimulated adrenergic activity, which in the long run depressed immune function for students with a strong power motive which are most aroused adrenergically by the examination.
Key words: Stress- Total protein -albumin - globulin -albumin to globulin ratio-Immunoglobulins G, A, M.
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