Effects of Hypophysectomy on DNCB-Induced Contact Sensitivity in Rats

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Abstract
Cell-mediated immunity in hypophysectomized (HYX) and non-hypophysectomized (NHYX) rats was assessed by measuring lymph node weight and lymph node cellular proliferation responses to cutaneous application of the skin sensitizer dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Differences were found in the lymph node weight assay, with the responses of the HYX rats being significantly lower than the responses of the NHYX rats. There were no significant differences as measured by the lymph node cellular proliferation assay. Over a range of doses of DNCB, HYX rats showed a linear dose-response relationship in terms of lymph node weight and lymph node cellular proliferation. No dose-responsiveness was observed in NHYX rats. Since HYX rats required a greater degree of antigenic stimulation to achieve a response level equivalent to that of NHYX rats, HYX rats are apparently immunodeficient at lower antigen levels.