title: Effect of hydrocortisone on the response of rat lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin.
abstract: The proliferative response of rat peripheral blood lymphocytes and spleen cells to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was studied following treatment with single or multiple doses of hydrocortisone. A transient lymphopaenia with a rapid recovery at 24 h occurred with both dose schedules. Hydrocortisone in vitro caused a dose-dependent depression of blood lymphocyte response to PHA but enhanced the response of spleen cells when the steroid was added after the mitogen. An inverse relationship between blood and splenic lymphocyte responses to PHA occurred after a single dose of hydrocortisone. Blood lymphocytes from multiple dose hydrocortisone-treated rats had an enhanced response to PHA. Serum collected within 5 min of injection from single dose-treated rats depressed normal rat blood lymphocyte responses. After multiple doses of hydrocortisone serum enhanced blood lymphocyte responses to PHA. The primary antibody response to sheep erythrocytes was only affected by near toxic doses of hydrocortisone.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001769:Blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D013936:Thymidine; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008775:Methylprednisolone