Effects of sex steroid analogs on spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis in obese strain chickens.
Treatment of obese strain chickens, either in ovo or after hatching, with testosterone or various testosterone-derived steroid analogs having no or only weak endocrine activities causes significant protection from spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis occurring in these birds. This effect is not correlated with the endocrinological properties of these steroids. This observation and similar results in other models for autoimmunity may present a basis for a more selective therapy in human autoimmune diseases in that hormonal side effects no longer preclude this approach.
Schuurs
A H
AH
Organon Scientific Development Group, Oss, The Netherlands.
Dietrich
H
H
Gruber
J
J
Wick
G
G
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000276:immunology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
D001323:Autoantibodies; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013954:Thyroglobulin