Suescun M, Chisari A N, Carino M, Hadid R, Gaillard R C, Spinedi E
Neuroendocrine Unit, Multidisciplinary Institute on Cell Biology, CONICET, La Plata, Argentina.
Neuroimmunomodulation. 1994 Sep-Oct;1(5):315-20. doi: 10.1159/000097182.
Many studies have documented the presence of a sexually dimorphic response of neuroendocrine functions in response to immune signals. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the hypothalamopituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to inflammatory stress stimulus in 15-month-old mice, and to determine whether such a response depends on circulating sex steroids. Our results indicate that in the 15-month-old mice: (1) there is a sexual dimorphism in the HPA axis activity in basal condition and after endotoxin treatment with generally higher levels of several parameters of this axis in female than in male mice, (2) gonadectomy alone, followed by sex steroid therapy, modulates HPA axis function in both basal and stress conditions, and (3) whereas estradiol plays a stimulatory role on adrenal function, testosterone inhibits adrenal glucocorticoid production. This study further suggests a clear sexual dimorphism in middle-aged mice injected with endotoxin. These results may be relevant for the treatment of sepsis in aged patients.
许多研究都记录了神经内分泌功能对免疫信号产生的性别差异反应。本研究的目的是评估15月龄小鼠下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴对炎症应激刺激的反应，并确定这种反应是否依赖于循环中的性类固醇。我们的结果表明，在15月龄小鼠中：（1）基础状态和内毒素处理后，HPA轴活性存在性别差异，该轴的几个参数水平通常在雌性小鼠中高于雄性小鼠；（2）单独进行性腺切除，随后进行性类固醇治疗，可在基础和应激条件下调节HPA轴功能；（3）雌二醇对肾上腺功能起刺激作用，而睾酮则抑制肾上腺糖皮质激素的产生。这项研究进一步表明，注射内毒素的中年小鼠存在明显的性别差异。这些结果可能与老年患者败血症的治疗有关。
