Lv. Rao et al., EFFECTS OF GNRH ANTAGONIST ON LYMPHOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LYMPHOID-TISSUES OF FEMALE MICE, American journal of reproductive immunology [1989], 32(3), 1994, pp. 238-247
PROBLEM: GnRH analogs are playing an increasing role in the treatment
of many clinical disorders. Recent studies have indicated that GnRH ag
onists suppress immune function in mice in vivo. The present study inv
estigated the effects of GnRH antagonist on functional lymphocyte subs
ets of mice in vivo. METHOD: Three- and 10-wk old female mice received
10 mu g of Nal-Glu daily for 15 and 30 days; changes in the immunophe
notypic expression of lymphocytes from thymus, bone marrow, spleen and
blood were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The administration of
GnRH antagonist to pre- and postpubertal female mice induced slight i
ncreases in lymphocyte subpopulations in primary and secondary lymphoi
d tissues. These effects are opposite those obtained with GnRH agonist
in our earlier studies in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Assuming similar effects
in humans and rodents, the gonadal steroid suppression achieved by Gn
RH antagonist treatment has no apparent suppressive effects on the imm
une system.