STEROID HORMONES

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Abstract
THE ROLE of steroid hormones in relation to immunity has recently aroused the attention of numerous biologists. While it is admitted that genetic, cellular, nutritional and environmental factors contribute to this rather complex mechanism, it has been demonstrated by White1 that the cortex of adrenals also plays an important part in the development of immunity. Since the activity of the adrenals is dependent on pituitary adrenotrophin secretion, it is well conceivable that estrogens, by influencing the pituitary adrenotrophic hormones, are indirectly associated with certain phases of immunity. According to White ".... it is not unlikely that sex differences in immunity, both natural and experimentally produced, may be related in part to the diverse action of estrogens and androgens in influencing the level of pituitary adrenal cortical secretion." As a consequence, the endocrine response to a particular stress may affect many diverse physiologic processes which contribute to the immunity of the