The role of corticosterone in cadmium-induced thymic atrophy in mice.
Serum corticosterone levels were determined at intervals after i.p. injection of 1.8 mg cadmium (Cd)/kg body weight. Thymus weight decreased significantly 3 days after injection. The effect of Cd injection on serum corticosterone levels was almost indistinguishable from that of saline injection. Further, Cd-induced thymic atrophy was observed in adrenalectomized mice as well as in sham-operated ones. These results suggest that corticosteroid effect is not essential for the induction of thymic atrophy by Cd.
D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*
D002104:Cadmium; D003345:Corticosterone