IMMUNE ALTERATIONS IN MALE AND FEMALE MICE AFTER 2-DEOXY-D-GLUCOSE ADMINISTRATION

Administration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) induces acute cellular gluc oprivation. In the current study, we examined differences in immune pa rameters after 2-DG administration in both sexes. Male and female BDF, mice were injected three times, 48 h apart, either with a saline solu tion (control group) or with 2-DG in saline (500 mg/kg). Two hours aft er the last injection, blood and spleens were collected. Plasma levels of interleukin-lp, and interferon-gamma levels were measured. Additio nally, the levels of the specific leukocyte antigens CD3, CD4, CD8, T cell receptor (TCR) alpha/beta, I-A(d), and H-2L(d)/H-2D(b) were evalu ated by flow cytometry on both blood and spleen cells. The blastogenic response of leukocytes from both tissues to mitogens was assessed. Le vels of glucose, corticosterone, testosterone, progesterone, 17 beta-e stradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were a lso determined. Increases in the percentage of cells bearing TCR odp a nd I-Ad in the blood and H-2L(d)/H-2D(b) in the spleen were observed i n the 2-DG-treated group for both sexes. In contrast, higher corticost erone and IL-1 beta plasma concentrations, as well as higher percentag es of splenocytes bearing TCR alpha/beta and I-A(d), and lower mitogen -induced proliferation of mature T splenocytes (79%) were observed in female but not in male mice injected with 2-DG compared with those inj ected with saline (p < 0.05). Taken together, these results suggest th at female mice are more sensitive than male mice to immune alterations induced by 2-DG administration. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.