Biomaterial Database

Dihydrotestosterone regulation of thymocyte function in the rat mediation by serum factors. 1983

C J Grossman, and L J Sholiton, and G A Roselle

We have previously reported that reticuloepithelial cells of rat thymic tissue contain specific, high-affinity estrogen (E) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) receptors which are not present in thymocytes, and that stimulation of the concanavalin A (Con A) sensitive thymocyte population is by means of a thymic serum substance depressed by estradiol. To ascertain if a serum substance modulated by DHT could also effect a thymocyte population, we incubated thymocytes in vitro for 3 days in the presence of the mitogens Con A or phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) + tissue culture media + 20% specific rat serum preparations and pulse labelled with tritiated thymidine. Rat serum samples were prepared from control, castrate, thymectomized (Tx) and castrate-Tx animals as well as from similar groups of animals treated in vitro for 3 days with physiological doses of DHT. It was found that there was a significant enhancement of thymocyte blastogenesis in cultures incubated with castrate rat serum + Con A or PHA vs control serum cultures (P less than 0.001). Direct replacement of DHT either to normal or castrate sera in vitro at physiological concentrations did not alter the level of thymocyte blastogenesis from normal or castrate controls. Sera prepared from castrate animals treated with DHT at physiological concentrations did not depress the blastogenic response, but sera from animals treated with testosterone were successful in depressing the blastogenic response to noncastrate levels. Sera prepared from Tx animals were stimulatory on thymocyte blastogenesis when PHA were utilized (P less than 0.02) and this stimulation was depressed in sera from animals treated in vivo with DHT. Sera prepared from Tx or castrate-Tx animals were not able to stimulate thymocyte blastogenesis when Con A was utilized but were stimulatory when prepared from castrate-Tx animals pretreated in vivo with DHT. It is hypothesized that Con A sensitive thymocytes are depressed by a thymic serum factor under the control of E and that both Con A and PHA sensitive thymocytes are depressed by a serum factor possibly of extrathymic origin that is under the control of DHT. A tentative hypothesis for the regulation of thymocytes by gonadal steroid hormones is presented.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010835	Phytohemagglutinins	Mucoproteins isolated from the kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris); some of them are mitogenic to lymphocytes, others agglutinate all or certain types of erythrocytes or lymphocytes. They are used mainly in the study of immune mechanisms and in cell culture.	Kidney Bean Lectin,Kidney Bean Lectins,Lectins, Kidney Bean,Phaseolus vulgaris Lectin,Phaseolus vulgaris Lectins,Phytohemagglutinin,Hemagglutinins, Plant,Lectin, Kidney Bean,Lectin, Phaseolus vulgaris,Lectins, Phaseolus vulgaris,Plant Hemagglutinins
D011944	Receptors, Androgen	Proteins, generally found in the CYTOPLASM, that specifically bind ANDROGENS and mediate their cellular actions. The complex of the androgen and receptor migrates to the CELL NUCLEUS where it induces transcription of specific segments of DNA.	Androgen Receptors,5 alpha-Dihydrotestosterone Receptor,Androgen Receptor,Dihydrotestosterone Receptors,Receptor, Testosterone,Receptors, Androgens,Receptors, Dihydrotestosterone,Receptors, Stanolone,Stanolone Receptor,Testosterone Receptor,5 alpha Dihydrotestosterone Receptor,Androgens Receptors,Receptor, 5 alpha-Dihydrotestosterone,Receptor, Androgen,Receptor, Stanolone,Stanolone Receptors,alpha-Dihydrotestosterone Receptor, 5
D011987	Receptors, Steroid	Proteins found usually in the cytoplasm or nucleus that specifically bind steroid hormones and trigger changes influencing the behavior of cells. The steroid receptor-steroid hormone complex regulates the transcription of specific genes.	Corticosteroid Receptors,Receptors, Corticosteroid,Steroid Receptors,Corticosteroid Receptor,Receptors, Steroids,Steroid Receptor,Receptor, Corticosteroid,Receptor, Steroid,Steroids Receptors
D003208	Concanavalin A	A MANNOSE/GLUCOSE binding lectin isolated from the jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis). It is a potent mitogen used to stimulate cell proliferation in lymphocytes, primarily T-lymphocyte, cultures.
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
D013196	Dihydrotestosterone	A potent androgenic metabolite of TESTOSTERONE. It is produced by the action of the enzyme 3-OXO-5-ALPHA-STEROID 4-DEHYDROGENASE.	5 alpha-Dihydrotestosterone,Androstanolone,Stanolone,17 beta-Hydroxy-5 beta-Androstan-3-One,17beta-Hydroxy-5alpha-Androstan-3-One,5 beta-Dihydrotestosterone,5-alpha Dihydrotestosterone,5-alpha-DHT,Anaprotin,Andractim,Dihydroepitestosterone,Gelovit,17 beta Hydroxy 5 beta Androstan 3 One,17beta Hydroxy 5alpha Androstan 3 One,5 alpha DHT,5 alpha Dihydrotestosterone,5 beta Dihydrotestosterone,Dihydrotestosterone, 5-alpha,beta-Hydroxy-5 beta-Androstan-3-One, 17
D013601	T-Lymphocytes	Lymphocytes responsible for cell-mediated immunity. Two types have been identified - cytotoxic (T-LYMPHOCYTES, CYTOTOXIC) and helper T-lymphocytes (T-LYMPHOCYTES, HELPER-INDUCER). They are formed when lymphocytes circulate through the THYMUS GLAND and differentiate to thymocytes. When exposed to an antigen, they divide rapidly and produce large numbers of new T cells sensitized to that antigen.	T Cell,T Lymphocyte,T-Cells,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocytes,Cell, T,Cells, T,Lymphocyte, T,Lymphocyte, Thymus-Dependent,Lymphocytes, T,Lymphocytes, Thymus-Dependent,T Cells,T Lymphocytes,T-Cell,T-Lymphocyte,Thymus Dependent Lymphocytes,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocyte
D013935	Thymic Factor, Circulating	A thymus-dependent nonapeptide found in normal blood. Stimulates the formation of E rosettes and is believed to be involved in T-cell differentiation.	Facteur Thymique Serique,Serum Thymic Factor,Circulating Factor, Thymic,Factor, Thymic Circulating,Nonathymulin,Thymic Serum Factor,Thymulin,Thymuline,Circulating Thymic Factor,Factor, Circulating Thymic,Factor, Serum Thymic,Factor, Thymic Serum,Serique, Facteur Thymique,Serum Factor, Thymic,Thymic Circulating Factor,Thymic Factor, Serum,Thymique Serique, Facteur
D013950	Thymus Gland	A single, unpaired primary lymphoid organ situated in the MEDIASTINUM, extending superiorly into the neck to the lower edge of the THYROID GLAND and inferiorly to the fourth costal cartilage. It is necessary for normal development of immunologic function early in life. By puberty, it begins to involute and much of the tissue is replaced by fat.	Thymus,Gland, Thymus,Glands, Thymus,Thymus Glands