Suppression of Acute Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis by the Synthetic Sex Hormone 17-Alpha-Ethinylestradiol: An Immunological Study in the Lewis Rat

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Abstract
Induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in female Lewis rats led to the well-known clinical symptoms and histological signs. Treatment with the synthetic estrogen 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE) from day -4 before induction until day 21 after induction resulted in partial suppression of these signs and symptoms. Analysis of the peripheral blood leukocyte (sub)populations in these treated animals indicated some remarkable changes. However, these changes were also observed without EE treatment. EE treatment of EAE rats resulted in a significant decrease of the relative weights of both thymus and spleen, which changes however were not reflected in the peripheral blood. Apparently the effects of EE treatment on EAE in the present experiments indicate an action locally at the site of the EAE lesion and do not seem to be mediated by gross changes in the levels of peripheral blood leukocytes.

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