It is well established that females are more immunocompetent than males as evidenced by higher humoral antibody titers, lowered susceptibility to infection, and more efficient graft rejection.
Furthermore, females also exhibit a much higher incidence of autoimmune disease. These observations have led investigators to believe that the male hormonal environment may play a key role in the regulation of immune response. For this reason, this study is concerned with the expression of autoimmunity and of immune function in the mouse.
This study included the New Zealand Black (NZB) mouse strain, as an animal model for human SLE, as well as normal DBA/2 and Balb/c strains. Animals were administered testosterone via subcutaneous implants in silastic tubing or by injection. Mice used were intact females, intact males and castrated males. Animals were otherwise untreated or had been exposed to a sublethal dose (400-550 rads) of irradiation. Target organ weight changes, immune capacity and peripheral blood picture changes were measured.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:pdx.edu/oai:pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu:open_access_etds-3799 |
| Date | 01 January 1979 |
| Creators | Weyant, Debra Ann |
| Publisher | PDXScholar |
| Source Sets | Portland State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Dissertations and Theses |
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