[New prospects in the use of hormonal preparations for the regulation of immunogenesis].

It was shown in experiments on 32 CBA mice and 84 guinea-pigs that testosterone and its metabolite dihydrotestosterone differently change the content of the splenic antibody-forming cells, i. e. testosterone lowers and dihydrotestosterone elevates this index. Adrenalectomy of guinea-pigs exerts a temporary intensifying effect on cell immunity (delayed type hypersensitivity) and increases the sensitivity to thymozine stimulating action. Administration of hydrocortisone and the mineralocorticoid DOCA in substituting doses to adrenalectomized guinea-pigs allowed one to establish that the change in cell immunity and thymozine sensitivity is caused by a fall of the glucocorticoid hormone level. The data obtained offer new possibilities of performing purposeful regulation of cellular and humoral immunity.