الفهرس 
Thymic hormones reviewOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
During tlie difficult live events peoples are living under several kinds of stressors which affect the endocrine and the immune systems. The present study investigated, under laboratory conditions, tlie influence of hormonal replacement before and after performing some surgical operations on tlie distribution of ly~nphocytes in the blood and lymphoid organs of white rats. The parameters studied were: 1 - Determination of the growth and involution of the lymphatic organs. 2- Harvesting of lymphocytes from lymphoid organs. 3- Estimation of total senirn protein and electrophoretic determination of seniln protein fractions. 4- Measurement of serum antibody (immunoglob~~linle)v els. 5- Evaluation of in vitro lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production. Hydrocortisone treatment for 3,7 or 14 days was followed by a marked atrophy of most lymphoid organs and a significant DROP in their number of lymphocytes. This inhibitory effect was developed in a dose-and a time-dependent manner. Hydrocortisone appears to suppress the humoral immune response. Acute and clu-onic administration of llydrocortisone have been shown to decrease seniln y-globulin and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels. In vitro studies concerning tlie effect of hydrocortisone on cellmediated i~mnunity revealed that, hydrocortisone severely suppressed the proliferation of rat splenocytes in the presence of concanavalin A (Con A) mitogen. All l~ydrocortisone concentrations inhibited the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) fi-om these splenocytes. This inhibition was progressed by increasing the concentration of liydrocortisone.