Age-related growth and protein turnover in the thymus of normal and glucocorticoid-treated rats.
Age-related changes in the growth, nucleic acid content and protein turnover of the thymus have been studied in normal male rats. A rapid and massive atrophy was found at each age 24 h after exposure to cortisone acetate or dexamethasone; the thymus of sexually mature rats being most severely affected. The steroids decreased (70-90%) total protein synthesis in the thymus more than whole body synthesis (15%), indicating a more pronounced action on the thymus compared with other body tissues. Initially protein breakdown increased in the steroid-treated thymus but at longer times this change was reversed.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003348:Cortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
D011506:Proteins; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003348:Cortisone