雌激素对小鼠胸腺功能影响的研究

Effects of estrogen on the thymus function of mice

目的探讨不同剂量雌激素对小鼠胸腺功能的影响。方法将小鼠分为生理盐水对照组（NS组）、雌激素100μg组、200μg组及400μg组（每组n=10）。测量各组小鼠体重的变化、胸腺和脾脏重量的改变。应用RT—PCR技术检测胸腺炎性细胞因子白细胞介素-6（IL-6）和趋化因子干扰素诱导蛋白-10（interferOllinduc．ibleprotein10，IP-10）的表达变化。苏木精-伊红染色观察胸腺组织炎性细胞浸润情况。结果与Ns组相比，雌激素各剂量组体重差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05），而胸腺和脾脏的重量均显著降低（P〈0．01）。与Ns组相比，雌激素200μg组及400μg组胸腺组织中IL-6的mRNA水平明显升高（P〈0．01），而各组IP-10的mRNA水平差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。苏木精-伊红染色结果显示，随着雌激素剂量的增加，浸润到胸腺的炎性细胞数量也随之增加。结论随着雌激素剂量的增加，小鼠胸腺萎缩程度加重，炎性细胞浸润增加，其机制可能与胸腺炎性细胞因子的分泌密切相关。

Objective To investigate the effects of different doses of estrogen on the thymus function in mice. Methods Mice were divided into four group （n = 10） ： a normal saline （NS） group, a 100 μg estrogen group, a 200 μg estrogen group and a 400 μg estrogen group. Their changes in the body weight and the weights of the thymus and spleen were measured. The levels of interleukin- 6 （IL- 6） and interferon- inducible protein- 10 （IP- 10） were de- termined by RT - PCR. The infiltration of inflammatory cells in the thymus tissue was observed through HE staining. Re- suits Compared with the NS group, mice exposed to different doses of estrogen showed remarkable decreases in the weights of the thymus and spleen （ P 〈 0.01 ） rather than body weight （ P 〉 0.05 ）. The mRNA level of IL - 6 was markedly increased in the thymus of mice treated with 200 μg and 400 pLg estrogens, compared with the NS group （P 〈 0.01 ）. In contrast, no significant difference was found as to the mRNA level of IP - 10 in mice administrated with differ- ent doses of estrogen, compared with those in the NS group （P 〉 0.05）. According to the results of HE staining, the number of inflammatory cells infiltrating into the thymus was increased along with the rising of estrogen doses. Conclu- sion As the doses of estrogen increases, the thymus atrophy of mice and the infiltration of inflammatory cells are aggra- vated, which may be associated with the secretion of inflammatory cells in the thymus.