Effects of castration, Depo-testosterone and cyproterone acetate on lymphocyte T subsets in mouse thymus and spleen.
The effects of testosterone on the relative proportion of Thy 1.2, CD4 (L3T4) and CD8 (Lyt-2) cells in thymus and spleen were studied after castration and administration of Depo-testosterone (DT) separately or together with cyproterone acetate (CA) (an antiandrogen) in BDF1 mice. Injection of 0.5 mg/100 g body weight of DT during 2 weeks decreased significantly the number and proportion of double positive (DP) (CD4+ CD8+) and increased the percentage of single positive (SP) CD4+ (CD4+ CD8-), whereas there was a slight decrease in the Thy 1.2+ cells in the thymus. In parallel, we observed an increase in CD8+ (CD4- CD8+) cells in the spleen. The androgen deprivation after 3 weeks of castration induced a decrease in the percentage of CD4+ cells in thymus and both CD4+ and CD8+ cells in spleen. Injection of CA (0.5 mg/100 g body weight) had the same qualitative effects as DT on the proportion of lymphocyte T subsets in castrated mice. However, the combined activities of DT and CA were greater than either alone. These data indicate the main role of testosterone in the distribution of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in male mice. The similar effects of CA and DT in the lymphoid organs may suggest a difference between androgen receptors of sexual and lymphoid organs.
Aboudkhil
S
S
Laboratory of Cell Biology and Immunogenetics, Faculty of Medicine Montpellier-Nimes, France.
Bureau
J P
JP
Garrelly
L
L
Vago
P
P
D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003534:Cyproterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D013739:Testosterone; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D003534:Cyproterone; C016131:testosterone 17 beta-cypionate