[Genetic aspects of the reactions of humoral immunity to collagen in man and animals. II. Modifications of the autoimmune status to collagen type I in NZB x NZW (F1) mice by sex hormones during ontogeny].

The sex hormones, estradiol and testosterone, are able to modulate the status of spontaneous reactions of humoral immunity to type I collagen in ontogenesis of NZB x NZW (F1) females. Administration of estradiol to puber and unpuber females leads to a significant increase in the reactivity levels. The autoimmune status to type I collagen in NZB x NZW (F1) males is nonreactive to sex hormones influence. The results obtained corroborate the suggestion of the important role of sex hormones in formation of sex dimorphism and age variability to autoimmunity to type I collagen.