THE EFFECT OF AN OESTROGENIC STEROID ON THE SECONDARY IMMUNE RESPONSE UNDER DIFFERENT HORMONAL ENVIRONMENTS

Abstract

ABSTRACT The effect of mestranol was studied on the secondary antibody response in mice under different hormonal environments. The results revealed that in the intact and ovariectomized animals treated with the oestrogen, the antibody response was of the parabolic type. In adrenalectomized mice, the administration of the steroid resulted in appreciably elevated levels of anti-tetanus antibodies. The response obtained was similar in animals receiving both the low and high doses of the oestrogen. Removal of both the ovaries and the adrenals resulted in marked increases in the antibody levels. Thus mestranol exerts an enhancing effect on the secondary antibody response in mice. This enhancement is, however, modified and regulated by the endogenous ovarian and adrenal hormones.