The influence of endogenous hypocorticism on the replication of influenza virus in the mouse lungs and the production of specific antibodies.

The replication of pathogenic influenza virus A/PR/8/34 in the lungs and the synthesis of virus-neutralizing (VN) and haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies has been studied in mice with endogenous hypocorticism induced by a bilateral adrenalectomy. The adrenalectomized mice appeared to be more susceptible to influenza infection as compared to the mock-operated ones. This was evident from earlier deaths and higher death rate in mice inoculated with 50 EID50, 1000 EID50, and 6000 EID50 of the virus, respectively. A tendency towards decrease of specific antibody titres and the resistance to reinfection with influenza virus A/PR/8/34 was also observed.