[Endocrine interrelationships of the thymus (author's transl)]

Abstract

We have studied the interrelation between the thymus and the hypophyso-adrenal and hypophyso-testicular axes in male rats. In the first part of our work, we have essayed the plasma levels of testosterone, LH, corticosterone and ACTH in neonatally thymectomized or thymectomized and hypophysectomized animals. The results obtained allow us to conclude that there is an indirect action (via hypophysis) of the thymus on the testes and a direct action on the adrenals by the intermediary of one active extract. In the second part of our study we measured hormonal activity of the thymus in hypophysectomized or adrenalectomized or orchidectomized rats. The results obtained show that there is no effect of the testes on the thymus secretion; on the other hand the thymus is under the control of hypophysis and adrenals.