Effect of sex-steroid hormones, testosterone and estradiol, on humoral immune parameters of gilthead seabream.
The role of sex-steroid hormones, testosterone (T) and 17beta-estradiol (E2), on the humoral immune parameters of the teleost gilthead seabream Sparus aurata was studied attempting to deepen on the knowledge of the immune-reproductive system interactions. Fish were injected intraperitoneally with coconut oil containing different dosages of T (0, 2, or 5 microg g(-1) body weight [bw]) or E2 (0, 1, or 2 microg g(-1) bw) and sampled 1, 3, and 7 days later. Hormonal levels and immune parameters (complement, peroxidase and antiprotease activities and IgM levels) were determined in plasma. Plasma hormone levels peaked at 1 day post-injection decreasing thereafter. Treatment with T significantly increased both complement and peroxidase activities after 3 days of injection but antiprotease activity and IgM levels remained unchanged. Treatment with E2 enhanced complement activity 1 day post-injection while decreased it after 3 and 7 days. However, peroxidase activity increased at 3 and 7 days post-injection while total IgM levels decreased. Implications of T and E2 in the immune-reproductive system interactions were discussed.
Cuesta
A
A
Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Vargas-Chacoff
L
L
García-López
A
A
Arjona
F J
FJ
Martínez-Rodríguez
G
G
Meseguer
J
J
Mancera
J M
JM
Esteban
M A
MA
D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D021541:Sea Bream / Q000276:immunology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D009195:Peroxidase