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Mating suppresses splenic natural killer cell activity in male golden hamsters
D W Kress1, N L Ostrowski, B L McRae
1Section on Clinical Brain Imaging, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Abstract:
The possibility that sexual behavior is associated with changes in natural killer cell activity was explored using a 4-h chromium-51 release assay. Mated male Golden Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) showed a significant suppression of natural killer cell activity 2 h after sexual activity relative to matched Virgin controls. Natural killer cell activity returned to control levels by 16 h postmating. The suppression of natural killer cell activity did not correlate with changes in plasma cortisol, transcortin, or testosterone levels, or with ejaculatory or intromissive behaviors. Administration of 0.40 mg/100 g of testosterone also suppressed natural killer activity at 2 h.