Activity of the reticuloendothelial system and the antibody response. II. Effect of stilboestrol on the immune response to sheep erythrocytes in the mouse

Abstract

The effect of stilboestrol on the immune response to SRBC was investigated in mice. A depressive effect of stilboestrol on both the primary and secondary PFC response was demonstrated and shown to be dependent on the dose of SRBC and the timing of stilboestrol administration. DNA synthesis in stilboestrol treated mice, as measured by [³H]thymidine incorporation, was increased in the spleen, reduced in the thymus, and unchanged in the bone marrow and mesenteric lymph nodes. Stilboestrol did not affect the PFC response of transferred spleen cells. A relationship was found between the number of PFC/spleen and the number of SRBC reaching this organ in both control and stilboestrol treated animals and it is suggested that stilboestrol depresses the immune response to SRBC by causing redistribution of antigen resulting from RES stimulation.