title: Inhibitory effect of 17 beta-estradiol on thymocyte proliferation and metabolic activity in young rats.
abstract: Proliferation of 21-day-old rat thymus lymphocytes has been assessed after 7 daily injections of 17 beta-estradiol (E2). Two methods were used: 1) image cytometry of cell nuclei using the SAMBA 200 image processor, and 2) cell culture making it possible to design cell proliferation assay, mitochondrial activity evaluation and measurement of IL2 activity. Using image cytometry, we found a significant decrease in the proliferation index at the dose of 100 micrograms of E2 per day. When 200 micrograms and 400 micrograms per day were given, this decrease reached 70% of inhibition. 3H-thymidine incorporation was significantly reduced in cell culture even after 5 micrograms of E2 per day. On the other hand, with either 5 micrograms or 50 micrograms of E2, a significant increase of IL2 was found in the supernatant.
authors.affiliation: Equipe Hormones et Immunité, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aboussaouira
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marie
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brugal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Idelman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002843:Chromatin / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D007376:Interleukin-2; D004958:Estradiol; D013936:Thymidine