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Summary
Hypophysectomized rats lack DNCB contact sensitivity. Prolactin or growth hormone treatment restores this reactivity, suggesting the pituitary gland regulates immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Hypophysectomized (Hypo-X) rats exhibit a lack of contact sensitivity to dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB).
- The pituitary gland's role in regulating immune responses, specifically contact sensitivity, remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of pituitary hormones in restoring contact sensitivity in Hypo-X rats.
- To determine which specific pituitary hormones can restore dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-reactivity.
Main Methods:
- Inducing hypophysectomy in rats.
- Administering various pituitary hormones (prolactin, growth hormone, ACTH, FSH, LH, TSH, HCG) to Hypo-X rats.
- Assessing contact sensitivity to DNCB in treated and untreated Hypo-X rats.
Main Results:
- Daily treatment with prolactin or growth hormone fully restored DNCB-reactivity in Hypo-X rats.
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) showed no restoring potential.
- Co-administration of ACTH with prolactin or growth hormone antagonized the restoration of DNCB-reactivity.
Conclusions:
- The pituitary gland plays a crucial role in regulating contact sensitivity.
- Prolactin and growth hormone are key pituitary hormones capable of restoring DNCB-induced contact sensitivity in Hypo-X rats.
- ACTH may interfere with the immune-modulating effects of prolactin and growth hormone on contact sensitivity.