Immunochemical and flow cytometric analysis of androgen receptor expression in thymocytes

Effects of Castration on Thymocyte Development in Two Different Models of Thymic Involution

“…Conversely, androgen administration to intact female and Cx male mice led to increased thymocyte apoptosis (30). Receptors for estrogen, androgen, and progesterone are found on both thymocytes and thymic stromal cells (31)(32)(33)(34)(35). However, a recent study demonstrated chimeric mice with androgen receptor-defective stroma and wild-type thymocytes did not undergo thymic atrophy (31).…”

The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis: immune function and autoimmunity

“…Androgen receptors (ARs) have been demonstrated in thymocytes by Western blot and flow cytometry in mice (Viselli et al 1995) and radioligand binding assays in humans (Kovacs & Olsen 1987). Several studies have also demonstrated oestrogen receptor (ER) expression in thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells in both mice and humans (Nilsson et al 1986, Kawashima et al 1992.…”

Neonatal castration affects intrathymic kinetics of T-cell differentiation and the spleen T-cell level

“…Although androgens have been implicated as negative modulators of host immunity, the precise mechanism(s) responsible for the bolstering effect of androgen deprivation on host immunity remain(s) to be fully determined. It is assumed that androgens most likely exert their effects on thymocytes, rather than on mature T-effector cells, because androgen receptors (ARs) have not been detected in peripheral organs of the immune system (Kovacs & Olsen 1987, Takeda et al 1990, but are present in rodent and human thymi (Sasson & Mayer 1981, Kovacs & Olsen 1987, Viselli et al 1995. Furthermore, it has been suggested that androgens, besides their direct effects on the thymus via ARs, may exert indirect effects on the thymus via negative feedback action on gonadotrophinreleasing hormone (GnRH) and pituitary gonadotrophin secretion (Rouabhia et al 1989).…”