Abstract
Abstract
The role of sex hormones as modulators of autoimmune expression, including immune complex deposition and host survival has received considerable attention. In this study BALB/c female mice received 20 mg of depotestosterone cypionate 5 days before and 5 days after infection with the malarial parasite Plasmodium herghei. On Day 15 of the infection, surviving mice were monitored for levels of erythrocytes, hematocrits, absolute parasitemias, and circulating immune complexes (CIC). CIC were determined in serum samples by polyethylene glycol insolubilization and direct measurement by helium—neon laser nephelometry. Treated mice showed a 44% reduction in the quantity of CIC, in contrast to infected controls which received cottonseed oil. Mice given the hormone were afforded protection as evidenced by 100% survival on Day 15 of the infection, versus 68% survival for the infected control group. The circulating erythroid and parasitemic levels did not differ significantly between experimental and control groups. We conclude that androgens suppress CIC levels during malaria and further suggest their involvement in the differential host survival noted herein.
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