NEONATAL ANDROGEN LEVELS AND ANTIBODY PRODUCTION

Abstract

While data suggest that the effects of sex hormones mainly estrogen(E), may be the basis for sex differences in immunity in later life, the reason for the differences in infancy are obscure. Though serum levels of E in male and female babies are low and not significant, recent data show marked sex differences in serum concentrations(C)of testosterone(T)with levels in males of 0-3months ranging from 350pg/ml to 2000pg/ml and those in females from 50-100pg/ml. To determine what effects these C of T might have on numbers of anti-bacterial antibody producing cells (APC)spleen cells from outbred male Swiss mice injected with 3×10⁶heat-killed E.coli 3 days before were incubated in vitro with C of T of 5-5000pg/ml. After 24hours, numbers of anti-E.coli APC as determined in an agar-gel were compared in T-treated and untreated(U)portions of the same suspension. At 50pg/ml 21 of 27(77%)of T-treated suspensions had increased numbers of APC over U(p=.003). The mean number of APC/spleen of 1280 for T-treated was 45% greater than that of U. By contrast, at 500pg/ml and above, APC were reduced;at 500pg/ml 27 of 36 suspensions had fewer APC than U(p=.002). T-treated averaged 42% fewer. Similar studies show that at C of estradiol(E₂)of 500-5000pg/ml and of progesterone(P) of 500pg-50ng/ml increases in APC occur but at C of 50ng/ml and 500ng/ml respectively AFC are reduced. T, E₂ and P enhance at lower and suppress numbers of APC at higher C. T is the most potent with its effects at the lowest C. Findings suggest that serum levels of T in male infants may suppress whereas those in female infants may enhance the proliferation and/or differentiation of APC.

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