The effects of late thymectomy on the immunosuppressive action of cortisone and testosterone in rats immunized to sheep red blood cells.
The immunological effects of cortisone and testosterone were studied in intact and lately thymectomized rats immunized to sheep red cells. The results showed that the effects of low doses of cortisone as well as those of high doses of testosterone (drop in the total number of rosette- and plaque-forming cells: RFC and PFC) were conditioned by the involution of the thymic cortex provoked by such hormonal doses, since these changes did not occur in thymectomized rats. The effects of high doses of cortisone were partly not influenced by thymectomy (drop in the RFC and PFC levels) but partly thymus-dependent (drop in the serum antibody titers). The latter were apparently related to advanced lesions of the thymic medulla.
D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D003348:Cortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007114:Immunization; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013934:Thymectomy; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects
D013739:Testosterone; D003348:Cortisone