The phagocytosis function and the antibody reactivity in the thymectomized and thymectomized-irradiated adult rats.

The authors have investigated the influence of the thymus on peritoneal macrophages phagocytosis and antiflagellar agglutinin serum antibodies to "H" Salmonella typhi in the adult rat with diminished immunologic potential. The results show that the immune reactions diminish in intensity in the thymectomized animal. The immune reactions are also diminished in the thymectomized animal exposed to radiation as compared to control irradiated but non-thymectomized.

The in vitro effect of a thymic polypeptidic extract on the function of T-cells and macrophages.

A thymic polypeptidic extract with a molecular weight of under 10,000 daltons was used in in vitro experiments to test its effect on the E-rosetting reaction of the T-total and T-helper lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of patients with thyroid cancer, Cushing's syndrome and others, as well as from healthy persons. The effect of the extract on peritoneal macrophages phagocytosis from both irradiated and normal rats was also tested in vitro. It was found that in healthy persons the E-total rosettes count did not change under the influence of the thymic extract, whereas the E-helper rosettes count increased up to 21% in 4 of the 10 subjects. In thyroid cancer, Cushing's disease, and operated Graves' disease, the thymic extract induced a up to 23% increase in E-total rosettes count in 8 of 11 cases and an increase of up to 90% in the E-helper rosettes count in 9 of 12 cases. The thymic extract had no effect on the rat peritoneal macrophages phagocytosis in vitro.

The effect of thymus extracts on phosphorus compounds in muscle and serum, and on serum calcium.

1. Thymectomy in young rabbits decreased the ATP content and increased the inorganic phosphate content of skeletal muscle. The serum calcium content was decreased, whereas the inorganic phosphate content was increased. 2. The administration of a lipid fraction (TL) or protein fractions (CIF and TP) of thymus extracts to thymectomized rabbits in short-term experiments increased the ATP content of muscle and decreased the inorganic phosphate contents of muscle and serum. Serum calcium content was increased. 3. The action of the thymus extract TP was specific only on the phosphate compounds, since the increase in serum calcium concentration was also caused by the control extract from muscle. The action of the extract TL is not specific, being paralleled by the action of a control extract from muscle.

Research on the in vivo antitumoral action of thymosterin B in C57 black/6 mice implanted with melanoma B16 tumor.

The authors have examined the influence of Thymosterin B administration on tumor growth in C57 Bl/6 mice implanted with melanoma B16 tumor. The results showed that Thymosterin B inhibited tumor growth but did not influence survival.

Influence of the thymic extract (TP2) on some humoral and cell mediated immunity reactions in normal or irradiated animals.

The authors have studied the action of a thymic extract (TP2) containing thymic polypeptides with a molecular weight under 10,000 daltons, on humoral and cell-mediated immunity reactions in normal animals or in animals immunologically depressed by X-ray irradiation. The following were investigated: serum antibodies, such as antiflagelar agglutinins of TH Salmonella and anti-influenza antibodies in the rat, the plaque-forming hemolytic cells in the mouse spleen, delayed hypersensitivity reaction in guinea-pigs innoculated with BCG, the lymphocyte rosetting reaction in the mouse spleen, and the inhibition of macrophages migration in the rats innoculated with TH Salmonella typhi vaccine. The results showed that TP2 stimulates both the humoral and the cell-mediated immunity reactions and has a radioprotecting effect.

Research into the stimulating action of a thymic polypeptidic fraction on the number of leukocytes in the rat peripheral blood.

The action of a thymic extract containing thymic polypeptides, isolated from bovine thymus, on the leukocyte count in the peripheral blood of X-ray irradiated rats was investigated. The results showed that the thymic extract increased the per cent value of leukocytes to about double in the irradiated and treated animals as against the irradiated and not treated controls. The stimulating action of the thymic polypeptides on leukopoesis and their radio-protecting action are discussed.

Influence of the thymus polypeptide (TP) extracts on the mouse inoculated with influenza virus.

Administration of thymus polypeptide (TP) extracts to the mouse inoculated with the A2 AICHI influenza virus strain, causes a significant decrease in hemagglutination titres in the lung cells suspensions of the treated animals as compared to the nontreated controls.

Natrium, potassium, cholesterol and total free 11-hydroxycorticosteroids variations in thymectomized and thymic extract treated rats.

The authors investigated the effect of thymectomy and TP2 thymic polypeptide extract administration on total, esterified and free cholesterol in the plasma and the adrenals, as well as on plasma Na and K and plasma free total 11-hydroxycorticosteroids. The results showed that total, esterified and free cholesterol decrease in the adrenals by 23.20%, 28.57% and 17.70% maximum respectively, in the thymectomized rat and that under the influence of the TP2 extract the values increase by 14.81%, 15.38% and 12.67%, respectively. Plasma cholesterol did not change. Thymectomy caused an increase in the plasma 11-hydroxycorticosteroids value by 13.4% and administration of the TP2 extract lowered their value by 58.11%. The plasma Na and K values did not change.

Action of thymic polypeptides of low molecular weight on some immune reactions at tissular and humoral level in guinea-pigs and mice.

Administration of the TP2 extract containing thymic polypeptides of low molecular weight (under 10,000 daltons) was found to stimulate the delayed hypersensitivity reaction in guinea-pigs injected with BCG. It was also found to reduce the hemagglutination titre in mice injected with the APR 8 influenza virus and to raise the antiflagellar agglutinins titre in rats injected with TH Salmonella vaccine. The cellular type of immune reactions was stronger than the humoral one.

Research on the radioprotecting action of thymic polypeptides and timosterin B.

Administration of the TP2 polypeptidic thymic extract results in normalization of the rosette-forming capacity of the T spleen cells in the X-ray irradiated mouse. The radioprotecting effect was also noticed on the inhibition of macrophages migration in the X-ray irradiated rat inoculated with TH Salmonella typhi vaccine and treated with TP2 or with lipidic extract Timosterin B.

Stimulation of anti-influenza serum antibody formation in the rat using bovine thymus polypeptide extract.

The authors show that a thymus polypeptide extract, TP1, prepared by them has the effedt of stimulating the formation of anti-influenza serum antibodies and do not show antigenic properties. The extract causes increase of serum lymphocytes. Electrophoretic analysis in polyacrylamide gel reveals a number of 11 fraction, while paper chromatography for amino acids, a number of 12 spots.

Influence of a thymus polypeptide extract (TP1) on immunogenesis and on experimental influenza infection in x-rayed animals.

The thymus polypeptide extract TP1 administered to X-rayed animals shows a protecting effect on the level of serum anti-influenza antibodies in the rats inoculated with A2 influenza vaccine and reduces the haemagglutinating titres in the mice inoculated with the A PR8 influenza virus.

The effect of some thymic extracts on antibody formation in rats and mice.

The influence of some thymic extracts TP1 and TP2 on the number of hemolytic plaque-forming cells (PFC) in the mouse spleen, on the titre of serum antibodies, S-typhy antiflagelar agglutinins and anti-influenza antibodies, was investigated. The results have shown that the hemolytic plaque-forming cells in the mouse spleen increase significantly, 2.3 times under the influence of the TP2 thymic extract in RAP mice inoculated with sheep red cells. In Wistar rats, inoculated with a formol-inactivated suspension of S. typhy and treated with TP2, the antibody titre increases 3.3 times at most. The increase is in relation to the dose of extract and the thymus batch from which the extract was prepared. TP1 also stimulates serum antibody formation in Wistar rats inoculated with A2 influenza vaccine. The antiinfluenza antibody titre increases 2.7 times under the influence of the thymic extract. The results also depend on the dose of extract and the thymus batch. In irradiated animals, the thymic extract had a protective effect. X-ray exposure of Wistar rats caused a 2.5 times decrease in the antiinfluenza antibodies titre. Under the influence of the TP1 thymus extract, the antibody titre increases 2.9 times as against the irradiated controls.