Effect of hydrocortisone on immune system of the lizard, Chalcides ocellatus. II. Differential action on T and B lymphocytes.
Lymphocytes of thymus, spleen, peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) collected from adult lizards, Chalcides ocellatus were cultured for 24 hr in the presence of 10(-3)M hydrocortisone acetate (HC) in order to assess the effect of in vitro HC on lizard T and B cell viability. The results indicated that HC induced stepwise, time-dependent mortality of the majority of thymocytes carrying T cell specific antigen(s) (TSA), 30-50% of T cells of spleen, PB and BM, and of a proportion of splenic B lymphocytes. Administration of 1 mg/g body weight HC to adult Ch. ocellatus lead to depletion of all TSA+ thymocytes. In contrast, T lymphocytes in the peripheral lymphoid compartments revealed both sensitivity and resistance to HC; similarly, B lymphocytes constituted susceptible and resistant subpopulations.
D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D008116:Lizards / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D006854:Hydrocortisone