Fig. 1

Inverse relationship between cortisol and lymphocytes in blood following TBI. a Plasma cortisol was quantified before and 1 and 4 h after TBI. In parallel, the numbers of peripheral lymphocytes (b), T cells (c), and B cells (d) were analyzed at the same time points. A total number of leukocytes (e) or indicated cells (f) were measured in blood by flow cytometry 4 h after i.p. injection of 10 mg/kg hydrocortisone. Data are expressed as means ± SEM. n = 5 in (a) or 6 in (b, c, d, e, f). Significance was determined using one-way ANOVA (a, b, c, d) or non-parametric Mann-Whitney t test (e, f). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, and NS, no significance compared before and after TBI or HC treatment. The experiment was repeated three times with similar results