[Changes in integral indicators of natural immunity in experimental hypo- and hyperthyroidism]

Two natural immunity integral indices-the skin bactericidal action and the blood antibacterial activity-were studied in experimental rat hypo- and hyperthyrosis by means of original radioimmunoassay. A decrease in the skin bactericidal action was seen hypothyrosis, but as whole, this test proved to be insufficiently sensitive. An alteration of the blood antibacterial activity in hypo- and hyperthyrosis is characterized by an initial increase in this activity, followed by its lowering. The prolonged phase of the blood antibacterial activity growth was found in hyperthyrosis, whereas in hypothyrosis the decreased phase of the above activity was seen. The pronounced changes in the natural immunity level precede clinical manifestations of the thyroid affection. Radioimmunoassay is recommended for studying the blood antibacterial activity as a sensitive and informative test, allowing one to judge of the antibacterial immunity state.