[Influence of thymosin on some indices of immunogenesis in intact and adrenalectomized guinea pigs].

The authors studied the effect of injections of the biologically-active preparation of the thymus -- thymosine -- on the development of delayed hypersensitivity (DHS) and hypersensitivity of the immediate type, as well as on the number of rosette-forming and antibody-forming cells in adrenalectomized and unoperated guinea pigs. Thymosine produced more intensive influence upon the immunological status of the organism in adrenalectomized animals. Under conditions of sensitization used by the authors adrenalectomy enhanced the DHS manifestations in this work at the initial stage of its development; this intensification was of short duration. However, thymosine injections promoted a more prolonged and intensive expression of these sequelae of adrenalectomy. At some of the stages, there was also an increase in the number of antibody-forming and rosette-forming cells under the effect of thymosine. Thymosine gave a more pronounced effect when administered during the sensitization. The periods of supervention of the immediate type of reaction depended on the scheme of thymosine administration.