Farookhi R, Wesolowski E, Trasler J M, Robaire B
Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Biol Reprod. 1988 Feb;38(1):91-9. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod38.1.91.
The effects of neonatal thymectomy, at 3 days of age, on parameters of the reproductive axis were examined in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Gonadal and accessory sex tissue (male: epididymis, seminal vesicle, and ventral prostate; female: uterus) weights as well as anterior pituitary, spleen, and adrenal weights were determined in the thymectomized and sham-thymectomized animals at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 90 days of age. Plasma gonadotropin concentrations as well as pituitary content of the gonadotropins and prolactin were assessed at each of these time intervals. No significant difference in gonad and accessory sex tissue weights was detected in thymectomized versus sham-operated controls at each of these times. Adrenal weights were increased in thymectomized animals compared with controls at 50 days of age and older in male rats and at 90 days in females. Spleen weights were decreased in the thymectomized males at 50 and 60 days of age. Thymectomy did not affect the spleen weight of females. Plasma concentrations of gonadotropins were unaffected in thymectomized males but were altered in females during the pre- and peripubertal period (Days 20-40). Vaginal opening, however, occurred at the same time in the thymectomized and control females. Pituitary gonadotropin and prolactin content were unaffected by thymectomy of the females, except at 90 days when pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) content was lower in thymectomized than in control animals. LH and prolactin content were significantly reduced in the males at 60 and 90 days of age. These results demonstrate that there are sexual differences in the effects of thymectomy on parameters of the reproductive axis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
在3日龄时对雄性和雌性斯普拉格-道利大鼠进行新生期胸腺切除术，以研究其对生殖轴参数的影响。在20、30、40、50、60和90日龄时，测定了胸腺切除组和假胸腺切除组动物的性腺及附属生殖组织（雄性：附睾、精囊和腹侧前列腺；雌性：子宫）重量，以及垂体、脾脏和肾上腺重量。在每个时间间隔评估血浆促性腺激素浓度以及垂体中促性腺激素和催乳素的含量。在这些时间点，胸腺切除组与假手术对照组的性腺和附属生殖组织重量均未检测到显著差异。在雄性大鼠50日龄及以上和雌性大鼠90日龄时，胸腺切除组动物的肾上腺重量比对照组增加。在50和60日龄时，胸腺切除的雄性大鼠脾脏重量降低。胸腺切除术不影响雌性大鼠的脾脏重量。胸腺切除的雄性大鼠血浆促性腺激素浓度未受影响，但在雌性大鼠青春期前和青春期期间（20 - 40日龄）有所改变。然而，胸腺切除组和对照组雌性大鼠的阴道开口时间相同。雌性大鼠垂体促性腺激素和催乳素含量不受胸腺切除术影响，但在90日龄时，胸腺切除组动物的垂体促黄体生成素（LH）含量低于对照组。在60和90日龄时，雄性大鼠的LH和催乳素含量显著降低。这些结果表明，胸腺切除术对生殖轴参数的影响存在性别差异。（摘要截断于250字）
