[Kinetics and properties of a cortisol-resistant population of lymphocytes from the lymph nodes of guinea pigs with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis].

Lymphocytes from the cervical lymph nodes of guinea pigs were incubated in medium 199 in the presence of cortizol in a concentration of 20 and 100 microng% for 24 hours. A determination was made of the lymphocyte survival and cortizol metabolism by them, and also (cytophotometrically) the nucleic acid content. There proved to be a marked reduction of cortizol metabolism by the lymphocytes from the 6th day after the administration of the encephalytogenic mixture and a marked increase of the cortizol-resistant population of lymphocytes in the guinea pigs with encephalomyelitis, and on the 17th--30th day after the administration of a complete stimulant. In a concentration of 100 microng% cortizol reduced the nucleic acid content in the lymphocytes of the intact animals, but had no influence upon the lymphocytes of both experimental groups of guinea pigs at the period of a marked increase of the cortizol-resistant population. Progesteron decreased the lympholytic action of cortizol and the metabolism of this hormone by the lymphocytes of intact guinea pigs. The capacity of progesteron to decrease the lympholytic action of cortizol was weakened in guinea pigs with encephalomyelitis and in the animals given the stimulant.