Age-related changes in immune function of rats and the effect of long-term hypophysectomy

The effect of age on the ability of rats to raise antibodies to sheep erythrocytes and on the number of IgM plaque-forming cells in the spleen was investigated. An age-related decline in both parameters was observed. Additionally, the possibility that long-term hypophysectomy coupled with minimal ho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMechanisms of ageing and development Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 127 - 136
Main Authors Scott, Mitchell, Bolla, Robert, Donner Denckla, W.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.09.1979
Subjects
Aging
Animals
Antibody Formation
Erythrocytes - immunology
Female
Hemolytic Plaque Technique
Hypophysectomy
Immunoglobulin M - immunology
Rats
Sheep - immunology
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Summary:The effect of age on the ability of rats to raise antibodies to sheep erythrocytes and on the number of IgM plaque-forming cells in the spleen was investigated. An age-related decline in both parameters was observed. Additionally, the possibility that long-term hypophysectomy coupled with minimal hormone replacement therapy might result in a delay and/or reversal of the age-related decline in immune function was studied. It was observed that long-term hypophysectomized rats responded better to immunization with sheep erythrocytes than did their age-matched unoperated littermates. The possible relationship of this to aging is discussed.
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ISSN:0047-6374
1872-6216
DOI:10.1016/0047-6374(79)90030-7