TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of androgenic steroids on rat thymus and thymocytes in suspension
AU - Sasson, Shlomo
AU - Mayer, Michael
PY - 1981/6
Y1 - 1981/6
N2 - Treatment of adrenalectomized-castrated rats with potent androgenic steroids produces marked involution of the thymus, while castration results in thymic hyperplasia. The androgen-induced thymolysis is not dependent on the presence of intact hypophysis, adrenals or testes. Cytosol prepared from whole thymi displays specific binding of [3H]-testosterone (Kd = 1.34 × 10-8 M; n = 21.7 fmol/mg cytoplasmic protein) and [3H]-5α-dihydrotestosterone (Kd = 1.54 × 10-8 M; n = 16.0 fmol/mg cytoplasmic protein). However, binding of androgens is markedly lower when binding is assayed with cytosol prepared from isolated thymocytes instead of intact whole thymus. Lymphocytes isolated from intact thymus and nuclei of these lymphocytes do not exhibit specific binding of androgens. Furthermore, androgens fail to produce cytolysis in isolated, intact, thymic-derived lymphocytes in suspension. Isolation of cells from the thymus is associated with an elimination of the non-lymphoid cells which exhibit high level of androgen binding. It is concluded that non-lymphoid cells which are eliminated during isolation of thymus cells are the targets for androgen action in the intact thymus.
AB - Treatment of adrenalectomized-castrated rats with potent androgenic steroids produces marked involution of the thymus, while castration results in thymic hyperplasia. The androgen-induced thymolysis is not dependent on the presence of intact hypophysis, adrenals or testes. Cytosol prepared from whole thymi displays specific binding of [3H]-testosterone (Kd = 1.34 × 10-8 M; n = 21.7 fmol/mg cytoplasmic protein) and [3H]-5α-dihydrotestosterone (Kd = 1.54 × 10-8 M; n = 16.0 fmol/mg cytoplasmic protein). However, binding of androgens is markedly lower when binding is assayed with cytosol prepared from isolated thymocytes instead of intact whole thymus. Lymphocytes isolated from intact thymus and nuclei of these lymphocytes do not exhibit specific binding of androgens. Furthermore, androgens fail to produce cytolysis in isolated, intact, thymic-derived lymphocytes in suspension. Isolation of cells from the thymus is associated with an elimination of the non-lymphoid cells which exhibit high level of androgen binding. It is concluded that non-lymphoid cells which are eliminated during isolation of thymus cells are the targets for androgen action in the intact thymus.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0019446235&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0022-4731(81)90023-6
DO - 10.1016/0022-4731(81)90023-6
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C2 - 7242083
AN - SCOPUS:0019446235
SN - 0022-4731
VL - 14
SP - 509
EP - 517
JO - Journal of Steroid Biochemistry
JF - Journal of Steroid Biochemistry
IS - 6
ER -