title: Age-related changes in immune function of rats and the effect of long-term hypophysectomy.
abstract: The effect of age on the ability of rats to raise antibodies to sheep erythrocytes and on the number of IgM plaque-forming cells in the spleen was investigated. An age-related decline in both parameters was observed. Additionally, the possibility that long-term hypophysectomy coupled with minimal replacement therapy might result in a delay and/or reversal of the age-related decline in immune function was studied. It was observed that long-term hypophysectomized rats responded better to immunization with sheep erythrocytes than did their age-matched unoperated littermates. The possible relationship of this to aging is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M