Modification of murine lupus by sex hormones.
The effects of pre- and post-pubertal castration and testosterone administration on the course of murine lupus were studied in NZB/W F1 mice. Castration of males worsened their disease, whereas testosterone treatment of females ameliorated their autoimmune syndrome. Pre-pubertal treatment with testosterone caused a significant reduction in anti-DNA antibodies; in contrast, post-pubertal treatment had no effect, suggesting an age-dependent maturational event which is hormone-dependent. Finally, intact females were found to respond to testosterone treatment with prolonged survival, even when treatment was initiated after the onset of clinical disease.
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D002369:Castration; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004958:Estradiol / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012737:Sex Factors; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013739:Testosterone / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D004247:DNA