Immune modulation in the guinea pig using cortisone acetate

Cortisone acetate was administered to a group of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) at 0 (control), 20 (low) or 200 (high) mg/kg. Steroid was given daily for two individual 7 day periods, separated by 7 days of no treatment. The effects of this steroid on body weight gain, thymic weight, total and differential leukocyte counts, serum antibody titer against a bacterin, dermal hypersensitivity response to a sensitizing agent and histological evaluation of lymphoid and other tissues were evaluated. Significant differences in body weight gain (p less than 0.05) and thymic weight (p less than .01) were noted. For total leukocyte count, no significant difference among treatment groups at individual time points was noted (p greater than .10), while significant differences were seen in lymphocyte and neutrophil counts (p less than .01). A significant difference in antibody titer among the treatment groups was observed (p less than .01). For the dermal hypersensitivity response, there was no consistent pattern among the treatment groups in gross (macroscopic) skin reactions. Microscopically, differences were seen in the inflammatory response among the treatment groups. Histologically, steroid related changes were seen in thymus, spleen, lymph node and liver. At necropsy, 24 of 40 animals had lesions of focal necrotizing hepatitis. Three affected animals died and remaining animals showed no clinical illness. The cause of the necrotizing hepatitis could not be determined by culture, special stains, electron microscopy, serology or by attempts at transmission with affected liver samples.