Study results from University Nacional Autonoma of Mexico provide new insights into hormones
2009 JUN 29 - (NewsRx.com) -- Fresh data on hormones are presented in the report 'Neonatal exposure to estradiol induces resistance to helminth infection and changes in the expression of sex steroid hormone receptors in the brain and spleen in adult mice of both sexes.' "A single injection of 17beta-estradiol administered to 4-day-old male and female mice increased the cellular immune response, and induced resistance to Taenia crassiceps cysticercosis as well as changes in the expression pattern of progesterone (PR) and estrogen receptor (ER) isoforms in the brain and splenocytes. Regardless of gender, when treated mice reached adulthood, they were highly resistant to infection," scientists in Mexico report. "Female mice presented early vaginal opening and altered estrous cycles. In male and female mice, the expression of the PR and ER isoforms in the brain was differentially regulated after neonatal exposure to estradiol. Moreover, an increase in the expression of IL-4 and IFN-gamma was found in the serum of experimentally infected neonatally estrogenized animals, which correlated with the observed protection against T. crassiceps infection," wrote C. Guzmán and colleagues, University Nacional Autonoma of Mexico. The researchers concluded: "Early exposure to estradiol permanently modifies immune system activity and sex steroid hormone receptors in the brain, and causes profound changes in sex-associated susceptibility, leading to resistance to helminth parasite infection." Guzmán and colleagues published their study in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity (Neonatal exposure to estradiol induces resistance to helminth infection and changes in the expression of sex steroid hormone receptors in the brain and spleen in adult mice of both sexes. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2009;23(5):709-15). For additional information, contact C. Guzmán, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Departamento de Inmunologia, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Mexico DF, Mexico. The publisher's contact information for the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity is: Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon St., Oxford OX2 6DP, England. Keywords: Mexico, Behavior, Cysticercosis, Drugs, Endocrinology, Estradiol, Estrogen, Gynecology, Hormones, Pharmaceuticals, Progesterone, Taeniasis, Therapy, Treatment. This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
|
