title: Effects of androgen disruption by DDE on the development and functioning of the immune system in Japanese quail.
abstract: We hypothesized that immunosuppression in birds that is caused by exposure to antiandrogenic chemicals occurs mainly through disruption of the development of the androgen-sensitive avian lymphoid organ, the bursa of Fabricius. Injections of 20.0 or 40.0 mug of p,p'-DDE [ethylene, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)], an antiandrogen, were administered at embryonic day 1. Bursas from only chicks treated with DDE were larger than, had fewer follicles, and exhibited vacuolization within follicles compared with controls; spleens were unaffected. No differences in either immune response test were observed. This study demonstrates that the bursa may play a role in androgen-active endocrine disrupting chemical-induced immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, USA. michael.james.quinn@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Cassie Lynn
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Summitt
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ottinger
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D003370:Coturnix; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity*; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity*; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007306:Insecticides / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000379:methods; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D007306:Insecticides; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene