Biomaterial Database

Thymus and the endocrine system: ovarian dysgenesis in neonatally thymectomized rats. 1979

M Hattori, and M R Brandon

By 10 days after neonatal thymectomy, the areas of lymphocytic depletion were being repopulated by plasma or reticular cells. Subsequently, ovarian dysgenesis was observed in 50-day-old thymectomized female rats as hyperplasia of ovarian interstitial cells an an enhanced degeneration of follicles. Thymectomized rats at 130 and 170 days of age showed complete ovarian dysgenesis, testicular atrophy, hypertrophy of pituitary beta-cells with pronounced cytoplasmic haloes, and lymphocytic infiltration in the pituitary, thyroid and prostate glands. These results suggest that neonatal thymectomy may initially influence the lymphoid organs (i.e. the immune system) and that changes in the immune system may result in the autoimmune-like damage in the endocrine organs and the prostate gland. Associated with these changes, the concentrations of plasma progesterone and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone were significantly reduced in 130-day-old thymectomized female rats with respect to the sham-thymectomized controls. The concentration of plasma oestradiol-17 beta in thymectomized female rats was the same as in sham-thymectomized female rats. These results suggest that gestagens may normally suppress immune responses but that, in the case of thymectomized female rats, the reduced levels of gestagens may lead to enhanced immune responses.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009929	Organ Size	The measurement of an organ in volume, mass, or heaviness.	Organ Volume,Organ Weight,Size, Organ,Weight, Organ
D010053	Ovary	The reproductive organ (GONADS) in female animals. In vertebrates, the ovary contains two functional parts: the OVARIAN FOLLICLE for the production of female germ cells (OOGENESIS); and the endocrine cells (GRANULOSA CELLS; THECA CELLS; and LUTEAL CELLS) for the production of ESTROGENS and PROGESTERONE.	Ovaries
D010902	Pituitary Gland	A small, unpaired gland situated in the SELLA TURCICA. It is connected to the HYPOTHALAMUS by a short stalk which is called the INFUNDIBULUM.	Hypophysis,Hypothalamus, Infundibular,Infundibular Stalk,Infundibular Stem,Infundibulum (Hypophysis),Infundibulum, Hypophyseal,Pituitary Stalk,Hypophyseal Infundibulum,Hypophyseal Stalk,Hypophysis Cerebri,Infundibulum,Cerebri, Hypophysis,Cerebrus, Hypophysis,Gland, Pituitary,Glands, Pituitary,Hypophyseal Stalks,Hypophyses,Hypophysis Cerebrus,Infundibular Hypothalamus,Infundibular Stalks,Infundibulums,Pituitary Glands,Pituitary Stalks,Stalk, Hypophyseal,Stalk, Infundibular,Stalks, Hypophyseal,Stalks, Infundibular
D011374	Progesterone	The major progestational steroid that is secreted primarily by the CORPUS LUTEUM and the PLACENTA. Progesterone acts on the UTERUS, the MAMMARY GLANDS and the BRAIN. It is required in EMBRYO IMPLANTATION; PREGNANCY maintenance, and the development of mammary tissue for MILK production. Progesterone, converted from PREGNENOLONE, also serves as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of GONADAL STEROID HORMONES and adrenal CORTICOSTEROIDS.	Pregnenedione,Progesterone, (13 alpha,17 alpha)-(+-)-Isomer,Progesterone, (17 alpha)-Isomer,Progesterone, (9 beta,10 alpha)-Isomer
D011467	Prostate	A gland in males that surrounds the neck of the URINARY BLADDER and the URETHRA. It secretes a substance that liquefies coagulated semen. It is situated in the pelvic cavity behind the lower part of the PUBIC SYMPHYSIS, above the deep layer of the triangular ligament, and rests upon the RECTUM.	Prostates
D005260	Female		Females
D006908	Hydroxyprogesterones	Metabolites or derivatives of PROGESTERONE with hydroxyl group substitution at various sites.
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000831	Animals, Newborn	Refers to animals in the period of time just after birth.	Animals, Neonatal,Animal, Neonatal,Animal, Newborn,Neonatal Animal,Neonatal Animals,Newborn Animal,Newborn Animals