[Age-related changes in the immune response of mouse (CBA x C57BL)F1 hybrids. II. Effect of hydrocortisone on the specific immunosuppression phenomenon and the role of nonspecific suppressor cells in the antibody formation process in old animals].

The effect of hydrocortisone on the phenomenon of specific immunosuppression and on antibody formation was studied in old mice. The decrease of immune response in the old CBA X C57BL F1 mice appears to be due to a high suppressive activity of cells-regulators which are accumulated in the spleen with senescence. It is suggested that these cells-suppressors belong to the population of non-specific T-cells sensitive to hydrocortisone. The effector T-cells-suppressors participating in specific suppression of the immune response to sheep erythrocytes in young CBA X C57BL F1 mice are resistant against hydrocortisone.