title: Reduced natural killer activity in female mice after neonatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol.
abstract: Treatment of neonatal female mice with DES markedly reduced the activity of NK cells in adult mice. This finding was most evident in C57BL/6 and BALB/c strains, but was also found in outbred NMRI mice. The mechanisms behind the reduced NK activity was further analyzed. No evidence of DES-induced cellular or humoral suppressors of natural killing could be detected. Pregnancy was found to be without effects on NK. Poly I:C augmented the NK activity in control females but even very high doses of Poly I:C failed to increase the level of NK activity in neonatally DES-treated animals. The lack of response to boosting with Poly I:C was not due to alterations in kinetics of NK induction.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D007372:Interferons; D011070:Poly I-C