title: Mating suppresses splenic natural killer cell activity in male golden hamsters.
abstract: The possibility that sexual behavior is associated with changes in natural killer cell activity was explored using a 4-h chromium-51 release assay. Mated male Golden Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) showed a significant suppression of natural killer cell activity 2 h after sexual activity relative to matched Virgin controls. Natural killer cell activity returned to control levels by 16 h postmating. The suppression of natural killer cell activity did not correlate with changes in plasma cortisol, transcortin, or testosterone levels, or with ejaculatory or intromissive behaviors. Administration of 0.40 mg/100 g of testosterone also suppressed natural killer activity at 2 h.
authors.affiliation: Section on Clinical Brain Imaging, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kress
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Ostrowski
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: McRae
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Arora
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*