Hormones and the immunological capacity. 3. The immunodeficiency disease of the hypopituitary Snell-Bagg dwarf mouse.

The naturally occurring immunodeficiency syndrome of the hypopituitary Snell-Bagg dwarf mice has been characterized. The immunopathological aspects of this syndrome derive primarily from an arrested ontogenetic development of the thymus. The alteration of the thymus function is caused by the failure of the pituitary to produce certain hormones, especially somatotropic hormone. The relation of this syndrome of the dwarf mouse to human immunodeficiency diseases and endocrinopathies is discussed.